All Saints Action Network is a community based charitable company operating as a development trust in All Saints, Wolverhampton. The organisation has been established to regenerate the area with three main objectives: improving local services, training and capacity building and enterprise development. An explicit aim of the organization which has a turnover of £1million and a workforce of 30, is to establish a community owned asset base.

ASAN acquired a former school surplus to local authority requirements. The buildings comprised approximately 12000 square feet and included a variety of spaces. The project suffered from very protracted negotiations with the local authority due to uncertainties regarding funding.

The proposal is to establish a learning hub in partnership with the City Council, together with a women’s resource centre, workspace for community enterprises and seminar and meeting space.

The project was initially intended to save a redundant and create new services. The organisation undertook feasibility work which showed that the scheme could work. In addition, other partners were interested in the schemes and funders were keen to support it. The project will create jobs and enable ASAN to develop income.

ASAN is currently negotiating with a contractor in order to undertake refurbishment in three phases that will last one year. A new biomass heating scheme will develop the organisation’s skills in recycling and renewable energy development. The workspace is due to open for business on 1 January 2008.

There are five key lessons from the project:

• Acquiring and refurbishing an asset takes a long time
• It is important to have finance available to undertake feasibility work and other research activity
• It is necessary to be focused and tough and not give up
• The funding package is very complicated
• It is important to develop strong relations with key partners

Contact: Mike Swain mike.s@asan.org.uk