Update for George Downing Residents Association members. (20/05/2024)

Boiler House Spaces is a local community charity, based on George Downing Estate. We were set up by two local women who brought residents together and is all about local people helping each other in tough times.

What Boiler House Spaces does

We work in two main ways:

1. We run programmes and activities alongside local people. For example our staff and volunteer team organise the Good Place Pantry at George Downing giving free food, advice and support. We also have an affordable Boiler House Spaces nursery, called CastleView Nursery, at Myddleton Grange.

2. We open our safe and warm spaces for local people and community groups.

Venue hire is at both George Downing Estate and Myddleton Grange.See https://boilerhousespaces.com/spaces/ for more information about hiring.

Boiler House capital development

We have successfully fundraised c. £350k - £500k to add to and improve our Boiler House site at George Downing Estate. We originally planned to refurbish and add a new building as well as a community garden and a newly sited MUGA. Unfortunately we don’t have enough funds for that so need to revise our plans.

We aim to achieve:

1. Building improvement and addition – refurbishment of the existing building and build an extension

2. Create a community garden where people can grow plants and food and/ or sit outside to add to our bee-keeping project

3. Resurface and repair the existing MUGA, or build a new MUGA (Multi-Use Games Area).

We are getting expert costings for the different elements to decide what is affordable.

Not all is affordable so we are keen to hear what you see as the biggest priorities:

a. More and improved indoor space for hires and sessions:,

EXISTING SPACE REFURBISHMENT :

Bigger kitchen to add better cooking facilities

Partitioning in main hall – reduces size but more flexibility e.g. for a storage room for more food/household essentials and/or add a smaller room [hard to soundproof]

THE EXTENSION:

A storage room for more food/household essentials

1-2 extra meeting room spaces e.g. for confidential advice/guidance sessions

Office space for staff and volunteers to work

Storage space for chairs and equipment e.g. for exercise groups

b. MUGA for outdoor games and sports for all ages

New MUGA nearer Cazenove Rd

OR

Repair/resurface existing MUGA [much lower cost]

c. Community garden for people to

Grow plants and food

AND/OR

Space to sit outside

AND/OR

Possible pop up takeaway coffee van adjacent to Cazenove Rd.

There was an event in the Boiler House on the 30th May to learn more about proposed plans for the Boiler House and gather views from the community. An update was also given at the May estate residents meeting and another meeting in July where residents shared thoughts and ideas and discussed the plans.

Please let us know what you think the top priorities are, either in person or via email

Email: info@boilerhousespaces.com
www.boilerhousespaces.com

Boiler House Spaces
George Downing Estate
Cazenove Rd,
Hackney,
London N16 6BE

Registered charity number: 1148931