The team at the Sir Hans Sloane Centre continues to work hard behind the scenes getting the building on High Street fit for purpose. We’re applying for as much funding through official channels as we are eligible for as well raising awareness and funds through events in the village and further afield.
In no particular order, these are all the things we got up to during September.
- Fund Raising Pub Quiz event on 27 September at the Dufferin. A huge Thank You to all the local business who contributed the prizes for the raffle.
- Through Peace IV funding, the archway along the side of the Centre will be decorated and have features added – this will be a plus for the Centre.
- We are in discussions with a local painter regarding the painting of the outside of the Centre.
- We have submitted a funding application for a Health and Well Being project – this will be an outdoor pursuits workshop including outings with the local teenagers who congregate in the village. It is likely to include kayaking and Resilience workshops. We’re awaiting the decision on this on 24 September. This funding is £5000. Update: this funding has now been agreed!
- We have submitted an expression of interest for Lottery money and are awaiting a meeting soon to discuss what level of funding we can reasonably apply for.
- We have an application for a £10,000 Lottery Grant but again awaiting confirmation if we can submit two applications.
- We received £300 from Killyleagh Community Association. This is currently paying the monthly electricity bill for the Centre.
- Through Tourism NI we are applying for funding to enhance the web site.
- We received a small loan from a local supporter which helped in the planning, and also £2000 from the Killyleagh Development Association for the interior architect plans.
- Clive Scoular painted the rest of the downstairs reception area and paid for the new carpet. £500+ – thank you Clive.
- Morris Crawford arranged for part of the floor to be made safe and paid for this. Thank you.
- Morris has been to America and asking the Ireland Fund for funding – a long term request.
- Our Art Exhibition that was coming from England is now booked for next November 2020 as this is being organised in collaboration with R-Space Gallery in Lisburn. The date change was because R-Space was booked up until then.
- We are included in the Museums of NI project on Hans Sloane and the role of museums – Clive and Elizabeth will each give a lecture and we hope to receive a small amount of funding to buy seating for the 30 people who will attend the talks.
- We had a video presentation in the window of the Centre after our Science workshops in Schools and as part of the Killyleagh Festival. This was the work of my daughter and Thomas Johnston.
- Elizabeth will be talking to Conan Mulrane soon about launching an online social media funding campaign.