From our record books, we believed that Kibble was founded in 1859, but through a social history project funded by Miss Elizabeth Kibble's Trust, have recently discovered that the organisation was actually in operation two years earlier in 1857. It therefore seemed fitting that this next phase in our campus redevelopment to provide education, training and employability in a high quality learning environment should be closely linked with our 150th anniversary.
This comprises 7 separate elements at a total cost of around £3m with a timescale of approximately 36 months to allow for impact on the operation of our services, funding opportunities and operating surplus. Construction is underway on both the Lifeskills Centre and the Trades Learning Centre with work scheduled to commence on the Expressive Arts and Fostering Day Centres toward the end of summer 2007.
Operating surplus from recent years has allowed us to accrue a designated fund. Our aim was therefore to raise £1m from a range of grant-making trusts, Scottish Executive challenge funds and the Big Lottery Fund. It is our intention to use projected operating surplus, augmented by a mix of venture philanthropy and social borrowing (if necessary) to raise the balance. To date we have secured £771,000 in philanthropic pledges and grants. In an age of rapidly rising expectations, the charitable challenge is to make a significant injection in these working assets in order to meet the standards of the 21st century and at the same time offer new opportunities to benefit and rehabilitate young people.
Planning Permission is in place for the complete redevelopment. The Lifeskills Centre and the Trades Learning Centre will be the first to be built. The sports, leisure and recreational upgrade will need to be the final piece of the jigsaw. The construction schedule for other buildings offers more flexibility and may be driven by funding opportunities.
Miss Kibble could scarcely have imagined the Paisley and Scotland at the beginning of the 21st century, yet her initial vision is as relevant today as it was when her Last Will and Testament was prepared in 1840. Kibble is proud of its long charitable history and recognises that from its foundation, philanthropy has played a key role in both sustaining and developing our work with young people at risk.
As a charity with an enormous heritage, both in historical terms and in proven commitment and compassion for Scotland's young people with social, emotional, educational and behavioural difficulties, we welcome any proposals of assistance whether in the form of funds, goods, partnerships or expertise.
Thank you to all who have contributed to Kibble in the past. To view all contributors please click here.
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