Clitheroe the Future


Key Projects
Youth and Community Support Workers
- The project was set up to address the needs of young people in Clitheroe and the surrounding area.
- The Healthcheck identified problems with drug taking, vandalism and anti-social behaviour in Clitheroe, Whalley and other villages.
- The Healthcheck recognised the importance of taking into account the needs of young people when planning, especially as regards social and leisure activities.
- Support work was needed, especially in the evenings, to identify and tackle the problems.
- Three full time equivalent jobs were created.
- Clitheroe the Future contributed £79,000 towards this scheme with match funding from Home Office Drugs Awareness and Lancashire County Council.
- Clitheroe the Future have worked in partnership with Lancashire County Council Youth and Community Service and the Ribble Valley Crime and Disorder Partnership.
- Many young people have so far been able to access accredited learning opportunities including Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
Roefield Leisure Centre
- The project was set up to create a new sports hall at Roefield, which is run by an independent charitable company, to enable the centre to expand its activities.
- There are only two major sports centres in the Ribble Valley.
- Roefield has a maximum capacity of 140,000 visits per year. Occupation levels are very high especially at peak times in the evening.
- The original plan involved incorporating the Ribble Valley Outdoor Changing Rooms and this scheme, which required funding support from Sport England and the Football Foundation, failed to win the support of the lottery funding body.
- A major re-evaluation of the management and operation of all sporting activities at Edisford is underway.
- It is hoped that this will result in improvements at the site which will benefit all sports users.
Market Town Enhancement
- The project aimed to enhance and invigorate the trading structure and townscape of Clitheroe and surrounding villages.
- £25,000 has been spent in grants for improvements to shop fronts and increasing floor space safeguarding jobs.
- New street signs have been installed in the town centre.
- New signs have been erected at the station.
- A community notice board has been provided in the Market Place.
- Maps of the town are to be erected on most car parks.
- Additional flower beds have been created and the scheme has helped sponsor the purchase of a mobile watering system.
- The improvements will increase usage, encourage investment and attract additional visitors to the area.
- The budget for this project is £70,150.
- The project is a partnership between Clitheroe the Future, Ribble Valley Borough Council, Clitheroe and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce and Clitheroe Civic Society.
Public Art
- The aim of the project is to provide a range of stimulating public art, to help to promote the area as a visitor attraction, enhance the cultural well being of visitors and residents and ensure economic sustainability for Clitheroe as a vibrant market town.
- £28,000 went towards the creation of Clitheroe Castle Community Garden which was supported by LCC, Myerscough College and Ribblesdale School.
- £12,000 is allocated for improvements to the Brungerley Sculpture Trail.
- We gave £10,000 in funding for the creation of the Labyrinth in the grounds of Clitheroe Castle. This was a partnership with Land, Environmental Arts Network and helped to create the only public Labyrinth in Lancashire.
Clitheroe Castle
- The aim of the project is to develop the castle into a visitor attraction with educational facilities.
- Lighting, access and landscaping will all be improved.
- A new cafeteria and improved museum and shop will be provided.
- Clitheroe the Future will contribute £250,000 in funding from the NWDA and it has also been successful in obtaining £150,000 from Sita Trust towards the external works and landscaping.
- Eight new jobs and 100 learning opportunities per annum will be created.
- This is a partnership between Clitheroe the Future, Ribble Valley Borough Council, Clitheroe Town Council, English Heritage, Friends of the Castle, Lancashire County Council and Lancashire Museum service.
Database IT Learning Centre
- The aim of the project is to provide IT training for the community in general and socially excluded groups in particular. It will also provide IT training and advice for small businesses and social enterprises in Clitheroe and the surrounding area.
- Three jobs will be safeguarded and 1 new job created.
- Clitheroe the Future will contribute £67,000 to the project.
- This is a partnership between Clitheroe the Future, Trinity Community Partnership, Ribblesdale College of Technology and Lancashire Adult Learning.
Fair Access To Services
- The aim of the project is to promote sustainable activities for rural business and community development, to tackle social exclusion and enhance opportunity.
- IT training and advice will be available to rural businesses.
St Mary’s Community Arts and Enterprise Centre
- The aim of the project is to provide a multi-purpose facility in the centre of Clitheroe.
- A 420 seat theatre/performance venue/conference room, dance studio and 2 cinemas will provide high quality arts facilities.
- A box office/reception/management office will be built.
- The centre will also house up to 400 sq m managed business space and meeting/training/rehearsal rooms, with a multi-purpose activity hall.
- A café-bar will attract visitors to the centre.
- Several jobs will be created.
- There is a view to sharing part of the centre with Clitheroe Royal Grammar School, thereby extending their facilities and generating income.
- 50+ learning opportunities will be created, and 80 learning opportunities will be safeguarded.
- The project is a partnership between Clitheroe the Future, Ribble Valley Borough Council and Trinity Community Partnership.
