News Roundup - October 2024

We have made incredible strides forward!

 

image of minifest posterSAVE THE SIX BELLS

NEWSLETTER | October 2024

Contact us at savethe6bells@gmail.com

This is our newsletter to keep you updated on our campaign to Save The Six Bells and make it a sustainable business, improving social cohesion and quality of life for Peterstone residents and the wider community.

 Saving The Six Bells: A Community-Driven Hub for All

The Six Bells pub has been a beloved cornerstone of our community for generations, and now we have a unique opportunity to save it from development and transform it into a vibrant, family-friendly community hub. Our vision is to bring this cherished venue back to life as a welcoming space owned and run by the community, for the community.

 

Mini Fest Raised Over £4,000 for Six Bells Community Hub!

The recent Mini Fest was a fantastic success, not only offering a full day of entertainment but also raising an impressive £4,200—more than double the original £2,000 target!

This achievement is thanks to the incredible support from the community, our tireless organisers, and everyone who attended. The day kicked off with live music, headlined by The Hitmen, with Terry Mason as the event’s lively compere. Award-winning singer Anthony Stuart Lloyd charmed the evening crowd with opera and show tunes.

Early in the day, families enjoyed activities like Line Dancing with Ava, a bubble disco for the kids, and face painting.

Toasties-R-Us provided hot food, and a well-stocked bar kept everyone refreshed.

Highlights included a lively auction led by Andrew Prosser, which featured donations from local businesses including Countryside Recycling, NP10 LOGS, SGM Waste Management and more.

Stalls selling treats and handmade goods offered something for everyone, with special thanks to all including Craft away, Bampy’s Workshop, Paint and Pompom as well Marshfield Bakes along with our own fabulous bakers for their delicious cakes.

The evening wrapped up with a spectacular light show by James Keane and Laserpromo, leaving the audience in awe with comments such as “Wow – I cannot believe we have this in Peterstone”!

Amanda Reynolds, Chair and spokeswoman for the event, expressed her gratitude, saying, “We’re overwhelmed by the support and generosity of everyone involved. Raising over £4,000 brings us closer to making the Six Bells Community Hub a reality.”

A Huge Shout Out to Our Amazing Volunteers!

We want to send a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of our incredible volunteers!! Too many to mention by name! Without your hard work, dedication, and passion, none of this would be possible.

From organising events and running activities, to helping with fundraising, planning, and everything in between, you are the true backbone of this community effort. Your commitment is what keeps the dream of the Six Bells Community Hub alive, and we are beyond grateful for each and every one of you.

A Reminder - Our Vision for The Six Bells Hub

We aim to create a family-friendly pub that serves fantastic, fresh food sourced from local farmers and producers. However, it will be more than just a pub—it will also be a place where residents can enjoy coffee, cake, and a chat in a day time cafe, fostering a warm and inclusive atmosphere for everyone.

The Six Bells Hub will house a local shop, offering essentials and fresh, healthy produce that supports our local economy and provides access to sustainable food choices.

Our hub will not only serve as a gathering place for the community but will also include a Visitor Information Centre that celebrates the beauty of the Gwent Levels with educational programs/ events that raise awareness of our local natural heritage and becomes a place to learn, connect, and grow.

Our Journey So Far

  • We’ve made incredible strides! Including applying for and being awarded £2,000 funding from the Architectural Heritage Fund which covered the cost of a valuation of the Six Bells Pub.
  • We’ve secured an agreement in principle with the owner to purchase The Six Bells for £450,000.
  • We have had 90 people pledge to invest and buy a Community Share.
  • Thanks to the amazing support from our community, we have already raised the initial £10,000 deposit! This is a significant first step toward ownership, allowing us to move forward with the legal process of acquiring the pub.

With your continued support, we’re confident that The Six Bells will soon be a thriving hub—a place where fresh food, local produce, and community spirit come together to create something truly special for everyone.

Our Next Steps

We now move ahead with applying for securing funding to complete the purchase by February 2025.

We will do this by looking at a variety of sources;

  • Funding Applications: We’ll be applying to various grants and funds from the UK and Welsh Governments.
  • Community Shares: You’ll have the unique opportunity to invest in our hub by purchasing community shares.
  • Donations: Contributions can still be made via our GoFundMe page or at our local events.
  • Loans: We will explore loan options available to community benefit societies and groups with social purposes.
  • We are working closely with key organisations such as the Living Levels to develop our strategy for the Visitor information centre and our wider business model; with partners and local businesses, with our MP Ruth Jones, our MS Jayne Bryant and Councillors Allan Screen, Rhian Howells and Trevor Watkins who are all fully supportive of our aims.

 How You Can Help

We’ve launched a GoFundMe campaign and we’re reaching out to everyone in the community to ask for support. Every donation counts, no matter how small. Together, we can make this happen! Donate here: https://gofund.me/18b62fea

We are on the lookout for people who can help with Project Management, legal, business and accountancy experience. We can never have enough volunteers, especially for a project of this size. If you can spare any time, either on a regular or ad hoc basis, please get in touch.

Let’s come together to save The Six Bells and build something special for our future.

The Six Bells isn’t just a building – it’s a place where memories have been made, and where future generations can continue to gather, learn, and thrive. By saving The Six Bells, we’re not just preserving a piece of local history, we’re creating a hub that will provide social, cultural, and economic benefits for everyone in our community.