Abandoned by the public sector nearly a decade ago, it stands as a beacon of hope for the new Belfast. We want to fill it with local people, enterprise, education and training, poetry and song — it will buzz with the voices of the local community.

We are expecting to raise the £1 million necessary for conservation and development, and then to licence a social enterprise from the community to operate the premises, enabling rooms to be free for education and training community, arts and cultural activities.

Our partners, the Lower Oldpark Community Association (LOCA), have served this part of the city for 40 years, delivering services, answering need and lobbying for the area, with persistence and skill.

We are doing this for Belfast. We want to bring back to life this superb example of Victorian architecture for community use. We want to hear the voices of children, the sound of aspiration and the imagination of Oldpark contributing again to our great city.