Prince Charles visits The
Florrie Posted 7th June 2007
HRH Prince Charles made an historic visit on St George's Day to see the Florence Institute for himself. He was warmly welcomed by Trustee Phil Williams and Tom Calderbank, a Friend of the Florrie and long-time campaigner.
Read the full article in Issue 12 of the Florrie News, on our Newsletter page.
The
Florrie features in Third Sector magazine Posted 15 November 2006
The November 15th issue of Third Sector magazine includes an article on the Florrie and the good news about our grant. Please click here to read the article (opens in new window).
The Florrie
is awarded grant of £3.9m Posted 28 September 2006
A £3.9m grant to restore the treasured
building was announced by the Heritage Lottery Fund on the 27 September
2006.The Bishop of Liverpool, who is patron of the Florence Institute
Trust, said the grant was "a huge vote of confidence in the
team working on behalf of the community to save the Florrie."
He added: "I salute the determination and the vision of these
plans. This historic building will come alive again for a new generation
and be a focus of pride for the city."
Tony Jones, Heritage Lottery Fund manager for the North West, said:
"As a resident of Toxteth, I know how important this building
is to the local community.
"Money set aside by the Heritage Lottery Fund will not only
restore this wonderful historic building, but will also provide
important facilities and services to young people and the wider
community."
Trustees of the Florence Institute Trust were thrilled with the
backing, but warn they still have to find almost £2m in match-funding.
Denis Devine, Florence Institute Trust chairman, said: "This
is a very exciting project that will involve a wide number and range
of people. "This award is a tribute to the hard work and belief
of our supporters, and I'm absolutely delighted."
"We're confident we'll get the rest of the money, but you can't
be cocky about it. We hope to have it secured by the end of the
year, and go on site next July."
Tom Calderbank, a former project development officer and Friend
of the Florrie, said:
"I can't say how happy we are. We still have to raise £1.7m,
but there's never been any doubt in my mind that we'll do it."
The lottery money will be released in two stages, the first £120,000
to develop the Florrie plans, and the bulk of the cash when the
restoration project has attracted the rest of the funding. The trust
hopes to win grants from the Garfield Weston funding body, the Duchy
of Lancaster, and money from the city council.
Local Press Cuttings
The following article appeared in the Liverpool
Echo on 4 August 2005.
"Memorial to be restored" By Catherine
Jones, Liverpool Echo.
A priceless memorial
commemorating the Florence Institute old boys who died in World War
One has been removed for restoration. National Museums Liverpool has
teamed up with The Florence Institute Trust to remove the historic
plaque, and restore it at the city’s Conservation Centre.
The plaque lists the names of 70 lads from the famous South Liverpool
club, which is on the Echo’s ‘Stop The Rot’ hit-list,
who were killed in action between 1914-18.
Project Development Officer Tom Calderbank, said: “I can’t
tell you how happy this makes us. This plaque is priceless, and it’s
about time we looked after it”.
Sam Sportun from National Museums Liverpool said:
“By removing and safeguarding this piece of city heritage, we
hope to conserve and stabilise it for future generations”.
Local historian Frank Carlyle said: “This is fantastic news.
It’s a great piece of history from a tremendously important
building. I am impressed by the passion with which the Trustees and
Friends of the Florrie intend to keep this building going and restored
to its full glory as a community centre for future generations”.
" They are keeping alive the ideals of the founder, Sir Bernard
Hall in honour to his daughter Florence, for the poor boys of Liverpool
at the time. When people look back they will say ‘Thank You’
to the people who fought to keep the Florrie open.
Public Survey - Result in!
A wide community
consultation was undertaken in March 2005 with a 4-page questionnaire
included with the Florrie News Issue No. 5. distributed to 6,000 households
in the Liverpool 8 area.
The results were
overwhelming in terms of support to develop the Florrie for Community
use - 98%. Furthermore 97% considered the Florrie an important part
of local history and a national heritage treasure.
These results
have boosted confidence and morale and given the Trustees the green
light to continue with further development of the project.
A message from our Patron - The
Rt. Rev. Bishop of Liverpool
The Rt Rev James
Jones, Bishop of Liverpool, in accepting the invite to be patron of
the Florence Institute said;
" Thank
you for the honour you do give me in inviting me to be Patron of the
new Trust for the Florence Institute. I gladly accept, though I cannot
commit myself to attending meetings.
I look forward to hearing from you when the Trust is properly formed"
In October the
Bishop had made a return visit to the Florrie,a listed building, and
saw for himself the worsening condition of the once proud building.
The Bishop helped
to concentrate minds on positive ways to move the project forward
to ensure the Save the Florrie campaign was a success.
Stakeholders support
The Trustees
have written to over 170 Faith groups in the south-end of Liverpool
asking for their support for what will be a multi-faith project.
Similiar letters
have been sent to leading figures in the community who can support
and influence the project.
Sir John B. Hall,
descendant of the Florence Institute’s founder, Bernard Hall,
has given his support to the Save the Florrie campaign. In his letter
to the Friends of Florrie, he said:
“The Florence Institute for Boys was founded by my Great-Grandfather,
the late Alderman Bernard Hall.
As his senior descendant in the male line, I am overjoyed to learn
that at last plans are in hand to restore “The Florrie”
so that this historic building may be saved to serve as a Community
Centre, with particular emphasis on providing facilities for the youth
of Toxteth, a cause close to Bernard Hall’s heart.
I wish the Appeal
to raise the necessary funds the success it merits and I urge all
who care for our Liverpool Heritage to support this project in every
possible way”.
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