Jill, Alan and Hamish received the following information from Sutton Centre for Voluntary Services…
Public Consultation
Grove House – A History of giving in Carshalton
Overview
Grove House is a Victorian mansion situated at the heart of the Carshalton Conservation Area. Built around 1840, the house is an important feature of the local landscape and is one of the only surviving Victorian country houses in the area. In recent years it has been occupied by Sutton Council, but in the past it was home to generous local philanthropists who positively contributed to the development and wellbeing of the community by supporting local charities and other organisations.
As the building is no longer required by the Council, Sutton Centre for the Voluntary Sector (SCVS), in partnership with Volunteer Centre Sutton and the Friends of the Grove, propose that the presence of community is maintained and the House becomes a hub for community, voluntary and heritage activities.
In March 2016, the partnership will be applying to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a grant to support the project which aims to:
– Restore Grove House, discover and tell its story and ensure that it has a sustainable future as a key landmark at the centre of Carshalton Conservation Area
– Set up a Trust of local people to manage Grove House and provide them with the skills to look after their heritage and maintain it as a community asset
– Record and celebrate a 200 year story of giving (from philanthropy to voluntary action) in a building that has been an integral part of the story
– Deliver a heritage skills training and heritage volunteer programme to engage a wide range of local people in the history of Grove House and the voluntary sector.
The building, together with its residents, has always played an important part of Carshalton’s past and hopes to continue to be a significant part of its future.
What happens next?
In March 2016 Sutton CVS will submit a funding application to the Heritage Lottery Fund with detailed information about the project, which will include plans for future activities, exhibitions and the restoration of the house.
To inform our detailed planning, we need your help! We want to hear the views of the communities of Carshalton to ensure the work we are doing is right for local people. We want to encourage all those people who live or work in the area, and those who participate in local voluntary and community organisations, to attend one of our open days or complete our survey.
How can you participate?
We will be consulting throughout September and October in the following ways:
Drop-in open days
To find out more about the project and speak to those involved please come along to one of our open days. No booking is required, just drop in!
The next open day is on:
Wednesday 14th October 2015, 11am-2pm Honeywood Museum, SM5 3NX
Survey
You can complete the online survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HZG95CT before 24th October. If you would prefer to complete this by hand a hard copy is available on request. Paper copies should be returned to Sutton CVS at Granfers Community Centre, Oakhill Road, SM1 3AA.
Other opportunities
Please send any additional comments or queries about the project to grovehouseproject@suttoncvs.org.uk
For further information about Sutton CVS visit www.suttoncvs.org.uk