The Woodyard vision is beginning to take shape in Barnstaple

The vision for a new community hub is beginning to take shape as local groups join forces to help The Woodard leap from the pages of celebrated author Ann Cleeves to the centre of Barnstaple.

The Castle Centre opened its doors on Wednesday (April 24) for voluntary groups, charities and local organisations to look around and tour the proposed venue for the exciting project.

The Woodyard is a vision for a hub offering a range of community uses such as a café, meeting area, offices, support services, workshops and much more, inspired by a vibrant community and centre featured in Ann’s North Devon-based novel The Long Call.

Wednesday’s informal drop in was an opportunity for local groups to see the scope of the Castle Centre for themselves and to appreciate the sheer amount of space it offers with multiple rooms surrounding a central courtyard.

The building is owned by Barnstaple Town Council, which is fully supporting the project and it is hoped if funding can be secured, Barnstaple could have its own ‘Woodyard’ in 18 months.

The project is being led by a partnership of local groups and has appointed Woodward Smith Architects to begin drawing up proposed plans to bring the vision for an inclusive, multi-use centre in the heart of the town to life.

There has also been interest from Petroc to include trades and other students in the construction and development of The Woodyard.

Project chair Naomi Jefferies said they hoped to apply for government funding very soon but would also be calling for donations and sponsorship too, with a number of pledges already made and a donation of £5,000 from Barnstaple councillor Ian Roome.

Naomi said: “The Woodyard, as Ann wrote about it, was a community hub where people don't feel lonely.

“She highlighted it as an arts hub and a cafe where everyone was welcome, staffed in part by adults with learned disabilities

“We're sort of adapting it because we're really aware Barnstaple has a lot of really committed good people who are trying to work very hard, but with very little money, to do a number of things to support vulnerable groups in the community.

“That could be from bereaved children to adults who've had heart attacks, to neuro-diverse young people and adults or refugees - and everyone is saying the same thing; that they don't have enough space to run training or workshops and we're all applying for the same grants for office space and often that space isn't really fit for purpose.

“What we're trying to do here is bring everyone together but have a quality space where actually the most vulnerable do not feel like they're at the bottom of the pile.”

The tour by local groups has already prompted a wide range of ideas on how the various spaces might be used to help a range of people and those will help the project when drawing up its plans.

Marie Gould, of North Devon Voluntary Services and who is also on the management committee, said walking into the courtyard of the Castle centre in the sun was like ‘being engulfed in a big warm hug’.

She added: “The lack of social connection these days is massive, at all ages, so part of it is to bring the community together but it would also be a massive support for the third sector of charities and voluntary groups.

“We know we can't build things to suit everybody but we need to start somewhere.”

For more details of The Woodyard, including how to donate and/or volunteer, please visit www.thewoodyard.org.uk or email info@thewoodyard.org.uk.