Charlie Fisher Development Trusts NI www dtni org

Charlie Fisher Development Trusts NI www. dtni. org. uk info@dtni. org. uk 07595979642 DTNI Heritage Asset / Community Asset Transfer in NI Update Making Community Ownership Possible

Development Trusts • There approximately 700 trusts across the UK reaching a quarter of the UK population with a combined income of £ 275 m of which £ 136 m is earned income • There are over £ 643 million in community owned assets with 5, 400 staff and 16, 000 volunteers • Common principles include: • Being engaged in the economic, environmental and social regeneration of a defined area • Being independent and aiming for self sufficiency and not for private profit • Being community owned and managed • Being actively involved in partnerships and alliances between the community, voluntary, private and public sectors

DTNI • Launched in 2011 in Northern Ireland • Sister organisation to Locality in England, Development Trust Association Scotland Development Trusts Wales • A nascent membership across Northern Ireland • Practitioner based and led organisation • Practitioner expertise in asset transfer and management and policy development

Targets • Contribute to the development and implementation of a community asset transfer policy framework and ongoing development of asset transfer policy • Engagement - Raise awareness of community asset ownership in the voluntary and community and public sectors • Provide practical advice and support for community asset ownership • Provide direct support for 5/7 demonstration projects to test the policy framework

DTNI’ Work on Asset Transfer/Ownership • DSD Enabling Framework • Capability • Financing • Information & Awareness • Community Rights (To Bid, To Buy) • CAT Demonstration Programme • X 5/7 Pilot Initiatives (a heritage applicant? ) • 17 months, learning & sharing, best practice, how to, what not to do • Development of Membership

Heritage Assets – A Definition Heritage assets … buildings, monuments, sites, places, areas or landscapes which have been positively identified as having a degree of significance. The interest of a heritage asset may be archaeological, architectural, artistic or historic (1) Community Asset (Transfer) - A Definition Community Asset Transfer is a change in management and / or ownership of land or buildings, from public bodies to communities. “Community” ownership and management of public assets encompasses a range of third sector organisations e. g. voluntary and community sector groups, faith-based organisations, community enterprises and social enterprises.

Types of Asset 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. HERITAGE Battlefields Conservation Areas Listed Buildings Registered Parks and Gardens Scheduled Monuments World Heritage Sites (inscribed under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention) Undesignated Archaeological Sites What about ‘Community Designation’? COMMUNITY 1. Leisure 2. Harbours & Marinas 3. Church Halls 4. Public Parks / Car Parks 5. Schools 6. Hospitals 7. Libraries 8. Housing 9. Rivers & Canals 10. Police & MOD Land 11. Courthouses

Heritage Assets in NI Waterside Railway Station Derry

Heritage Assets in NI Crossgar PSNI Station

Heritage Assets in NI Broughshane PSNI Station

Heritage Assets in NI Bangor Courthouse

Heritage Asset/Community Asset in North Belfast Nelson Memorial Church Shankill Road Belfast

Heritage Asset/Community Asset in North Belfast Public Library Shankill Road Belfast

Heritage Asset/Community Asset in North Belfast Crumlin Road Courthouse

Heritage Asset/Community Asset in North Belfast Carlisle Memorial Methodist

Heritage Asset/Community Asset in North Belfast St Gemma’s Ardoyne

A Community Asset! New Lodge Youth Club

Challenges • Must be needs not building-led • Not about the preservation of buildings • Utilising assets to realise community benefit • • • Can be a long and complex process Local political and community tensions Must get the business case right Shortage of appropriate finance Skills gaps & capacity implications Speed/Scale/Support – Managing Expectation Managing Failure • This is asset not liability transfer but it can be done and there are now thousands of successful examples