Case study: Strategic relationship building to secure space in a prime location
This case study is aimed at cultural and community sector organisations.
Summary
Croydon BME Forum is an umbrella organisation, supporting Black and minority ethnic voluntary sectors in Croydon. Established in 2003, it provides specialist infrastructure support (including community engagement and capacity building), and manages the Croydon Wellness Centre. It has a physical and digital space in the Whitgift Shopping Centre - an excellent location due to shopping footfall and good transport links. It is a one-stop shop for Black and minority ethnic community health and wellbeing services.
The organisation has developed good negotiation skills, and long-lease management expertise - using both to forge a strong working relationship with the shopping centre landlord. Alongside this are strategic local authority and NHS partnerships (both funders of the space). Croydon BME Forum now hopes to establish a second health and wellbeing hub, in another part of the borough.
Challenge
The Croydon Wellness Centre is managed by (and emerged from work of) the Croydon BME Forum - an umbrella charity organisation for Croydon’s Black and minority ethnic voluntary and community sector. Croydon BME Forum was established in 2003, to maximise engaging Black and minority ethnic communities living in Croydon. It provides specialist infrastructure support, in areas like engagement, capacity building, and promoting equality and cohesion.
This space is a response to knowledge barriers Black and minority ethnic Londoners experience before, during and after accessing mental health services, irrespective of treatment courses planned (or put in place). An informed, early intervention information service plays a significant role when addressing neighbourhood-level health inequalities.
Aim
Croydon BME Forum wanted to:
- create a new information and advice service, tackling health inequalities faced by Black and minority ethnic Londoners
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find and occupy a bespoke space, to deliver this new health hub approach and support a wider community health strategy.
Action
They:
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took the opportunity from a chance encounter with the Whitgift Centre manager, to discuss using abandoned units at the shopping centre.
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used prior experience in procuring and managing long-lease arrangements elsewhere in Croydon, to secure a new space.
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agreed a lease with the shopping centre landlord.
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redesigned the space to meet their programme's needs.
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built strategic partnerships with statutory agencies, Croydon Council, the NHS, voluntary groups and the community.
Impact
They:
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obtained a space, with great transport link access for all Croydon (and surrounding area) residents.
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found many potential service users interested in hiring the venue, showing potential to improve revenue - which they can then direct back to the space and its services.
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secured funding from the NHS and Croydon Council, as result of relationship-building efforts
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are in discussions about opening a second hub, in north Croydon.
Next steps for you
You could use this case study as inspiration to:
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invest in building strategic private sector, statutory and voluntary organisation partnerships
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apply previous space negotiation learnings, to better advocate for your own service and space.
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take advantage of dialogue opportunities with public and private sector contacts, around unallocated spaces in central and accessible locations.
To find out more, email [email protected].
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