12 January 2006
Community innovation facility proposed for Cambridge city centre
Proposals for an exciting new building, dedicated to helping disadvantaged people become part of the Cambridge enterprise culture, will be unveiled at a public exhibition to be held on the evenings of 18 and 19 January in St Matthew's School, Norfolk Street.
The Cambridge Community Innovation Centre would be built on the site of the old Howard Mallett building in the Petersfield area of the city, and will become a 'launch pad' and base for social enterprises run on a not-for-profit basis, and for start-ups by young or disadvantaged people.
The purpose-designed premises - a low-rise, fully accessible 'green' building - will act as a central hub for advisory services and will also have a café, meeting rooms and rehearsal space for local people to enjoy.
The Centre is planned by Citylife, a Cambridge-based charitable society that runs a number of schemes around the country, addressing the problems of social and economic exclusion.
Chief Executive Tim Jones says: 'We have a vision of an innovative building that will be an integral part of its green environment: open, airy and welcoming. It will be a showcase for local small creative firms that are a growing market for employment; and will ensure that people currently struggling because of the cost or unsuitability of local premises can get a fair chance at setting up a small business.
'We hope that as many people as possible will come to the exhibition, ask us any questions about the plans, and give us their feedback. The Centre is intended as a real asset for Petersfield and the rest of the city, and we wish to consult as widely as possible.'
As well as holding the exhibition, Citylife is running workshops with young people at Parkside Community College to gather their ideas, and will be extending this aspect by asking them to play an active role in designing the outside space around the building.
The Cambridge Community Innovation Centre would be built on the site of the old Howard Mallett building in the Petersfield area of the city, and will become a 'launch pad' and base for social enterprises run on a not-for-profit basis, and for start-ups by young or disadvantaged people.
The purpose-designed premises - a low-rise, fully accessible 'green' building - will act as a central hub for advisory services and will also have a café, meeting rooms and rehearsal space for local people to enjoy.
The Centre is planned by Citylife, a Cambridge-based charitable society that runs a number of schemes around the country, addressing the problems of social and economic exclusion.
Chief Executive Tim Jones says: 'We have a vision of an innovative building that will be an integral part of its green environment: open, airy and welcoming. It will be a showcase for local small creative firms that are a growing market for employment; and will ensure that people currently struggling because of the cost or unsuitability of local premises can get a fair chance at setting up a small business.
'We hope that as many people as possible will come to the exhibition, ask us any questions about the plans, and give us their feedback. The Centre is intended as a real asset for Petersfield and the rest of the city, and we wish to consult as widely as possible.'
As well as holding the exhibition, Citylife is running workshops with young people at Parkside Community College to gather their ideas, and will be extending this aspect by asking them to play an active role in designing the outside space around the building.
NEWS