I am trying to create an ecovillage in Swansea, South Wales to support charities, their volunteers and staff. This project will deliver support services, accommodation and employment for veterans. I hope to coordinate this with established veterans charities such as SSAFA and The Royal British Legion in order to extend their reach and avoid duplication of work. We will also work together with range of charitable and non profit organisations to benefit the surrounding area.

This will be no "hippy commune" but a cutting edge enterprise using top of the range technology to generate renewable energy and grow our own food. The ecovillage would ultimately aim to be completely self sufficient in food, finance and waste management. The charitable aspect of the project would be supported by a non profit company.

The long-term goal, after demonstrating the success of this model is to franchise this plan to as many locations as possible throughout the UK to support a range of different charities. This would expedite the sustainability movement whilst also helping with funding issues in the voluntary sector, housing needs and employment. The implications of wide-scale implementation of this plan are significant.

I have done a great deal of work on business planning and policy development for this several years ago but didn't have a specific charity or cause in mind, but due to work pressures and a few bouts of depression, I lost momentum for the project and, for the sake of my mental health, put the whole thing on hold. Inspired by the way SSAFA have supported my friend over the last few years and his sudden decision to walk around the coast of the UK, I have resurrected the plans that I started years ago with a vengeance. I hope to have made significant progress by the time he gets back.

Needless to say, this is an incredibly complex plan with various legal and financial pitfalls and I am keen to plan this out meticulously to ensure success. In order to plan this project effectively, I will require training, consultants fees, legal advice and a way to cover living expenses to dedicate myself to the project full-time.

I am now trying to raise enough money to dedicate two full years of my time to pushing this project forward and the initial funding that I estimate I will need to cover training and consultancy fees for building a business plan, website and organisation capable of attracting the funding required to set up such an ambitious plan. I am currently working full time and trying to do this in my spare time, but I honestly feel like even work is only a distraction from the one thing I am meant to do in life - MAKE THIS PLAN WORK

The purchase of appropriate land, construction of buildings/systems and landscaping will no doubt cost hundreds of thousands, if not millions. That is not what I am asking for. All I am asking for is £50,000 to give me the time and resources to get this whole thing moving. With enough time, I will be able to prepare the plans more thoroughly, focus on the task at hand and seek grant funding to purchase the land and get started.

I will do it even if this doesn't work, but it will just take me a great deal longer. If you have experience in business planning and would like to get involved, or even have any questions please get in touch.

Thanks for reading and I hope you will find this idea worthy of your support

Chris Carree