News

Helping London's Voluntary and Community Sector Better Manage its Buildings

At its meeting in December 2005, the Bridge House Trust approved two grants which we hope will play a significant role in helping the voluntary and community sector better manage its buildings.

Centre for Accessible Environments
A grant of £155,000 over three years was awarded to the Centre for Accessible Environments for the post of an Access and Sustainability Officer to provide advice and information to voluntary and community organisations wishing to make their buildings more accessible and sustainable.

We have funded the post in response to frequent enquiries to the Trust regarding such questions as 'what is an access audit?', 'how do we find an access auditor?', 'how do we find and appoint an architect or surveyor?', 'what is liable for VAT?' and 'where can we get disability equality training?'.

The post holder, Wai-Mei Chan, can deal with all enquiries regarding improving access to your community facilities, either directly or by signposting you in the right direction.

Contact details:
Wai-Mei Chan
Telephone: 020 7840 0125
Email: wai-mei.chan@cae.org.uk
Website: www.cae.org.uk

Ethical Property Foundation
At the same meeting, a grant of £77,200 over three years was awarded to the Ethical Property Foundation to provide a comprehensive property advice and support service for the voluntary and community sector in London.

EPF is a new charity set up by the Ethical Property Company in response to the needs of the VCO for advice and information on a range of issues around buildings management.

The London manager will be developing a register of approved property professionals willing to provide pro bono advice in such specialist areas as lease negotiation, valuation, conveyancing, repairs and refurbishment. They will assess an individual organisation's needs and refer to the appropriate professionals if necessary. A website will also be developed giving information on what tenants can expect in terms of leases, break clauses and liabilities such as dilapidations and rent reviews.

Contact details:
Jo Taylor
Telephone: 020 7065 0760
Email: jotaylor@ethicalproperty.org.uk
Website: www.ethicalproperty.org.uk

CAE and EPF are working closely together to complement and add value to each other's work.

Further reading
Click here to view Access and Sustainability Advisory Service. This article by Jenny Field, Principal Grants Officer at Bridge House Trust, originally appeared in the Spring 2006 issue of Access by Design, the journal of the Centre for Accessible Environments.