Calderdale community share campaign hits £270,000 target

The total that the volunteer-led charity was seeking from investors was £270,000, and this was reached in the first week in January, two weeks before the share offer was due to close.

The success means that the Trust can now progress to buy the houses and land immediately abutting the Fielden Hall community centre in Todmorden. This both protects the future of the community centre and makes two new houses available for renting at affordable rents.

The £270,000 has been invested by over a hundred individuals, mostly living in the upper Calder valley, as well as a £3,000 contribution from Todmorden Town Council. A £50,000 matched loan has also been obtained from the Community Shares Booster Programme.

Simon Brearley, chair of the Trust, said: “We are absolutely thrilled at the response which our share issue has attracted. We are enormously appreciative of everyone who has chosen to invest their savings with us. By doing so they are directly helping to strengthen our community and protect our local heritage”.

Shares in the Community Land Trust are an investment rather than a donation, and the Trust will be offering two per cent interest. The minimum investment was £250, and the maximum was £20,000.

Simon Brearley added: “e know that the old Fielden Art School elicits warm memories for many Todmorden people and some investors have told us of their own links to the building in the past. Our share offer means that the Fielden Hall and the whole Fielden Acre will now be secure in community ownership.”