The Charity Commission has finally responded to our representation and those of 50 Holmfirth people who expressed their concerns about the future of The Tech.

We are extremely grateful to Thelma Walker and all the other people who contacted the Charity Commission on our behalf.  Thelma said:

“I have supported both parties during recent negotiations and have spoken personally to the Charity Commission to try and speed up the decision making, but I am exceptionally disappointed by the College’s decision to serve notice to vacate the premises before the Charity Commission had made a final decision.  I urged the College to urgently reassess its position and consider at the very least extending the licence until the Charity Commission gave their final view on the matter. Now this has been received, it’s time to talk again.” 

We are also very grateful to the many people who have responded to our Facebook page and raised objections to the public notice.  In two days we reached over 13,000 people! 

The Parish Council also deserves our thanks for its support.  Councillor Paul Davies said “Holmfirth Tech is an important community asset, standing at the gateway to the Town Centre.  The loss of this facility will have a serious impact on local people and will damage the town centre’s vitality and viability.  Kirklees College still has the chance to do the right thing for the local community, so I ask the Board of Governors to rescind its eviction decision and re-open discussions about the transfer the property to Holmfirth Tech Ltd so that last year’s success can act as the foundation for a new future for this much loved local building.” 

The Charity Commission’s response has given us a basis to restart discussions with the College about the best way of meeting the Charity Commission’s requirements.  We are very keen to find a mutually acceptable way of transferring the building and hope to meet with the College very soon.  We know that all the users and our other supporters are keen to know what is going to happen in the Autumn to their Tech.

However, we are now in the midst of the holiday season and there are still a number of complicated matters to be sorted out.  Therefore, we will be asking the College to withdraw its eviction notice and allow us to use the Tech for a further six months. This should give us time to work our way through the various options open to us.

 If you would like to add your voice to our request to the College please email us at support.us@holmfirthtech.co.uk  

Kirklees College is going to evict Holmfirth Tech from the ex-Adult Education Centre at the end of September. 

Holmfirth Tech Ltd was set up last year as a charitable community benefit society to make sure the building remained a locally owned asset.  After 18 months of trying to find the right and proper way to transfer ownership, Kirklees College has slammed closed the door.

Kirklees College is adamant that it must sell the property. Holmfirth Tech and many local people are not so sure. 

Holmfirth Tech’s legal advisor considers that Kirklees College holds the building in trust for the people of Holmfirth.  Kirklees College believes it must maximise the value of its assets so it wants to sell the building and use the money in Huddersfield as part of its financial recovery plan. 

Holmfirth Tech believes this is not the right thing to do. Many local people agree.

Kirklees College claims that there is no demand in Holmfirth. The last year seen the demand for a creative and community hub flourish. After standing empty for years, over 400 people of all ages now use the building every week. 

Holmfirth Tech believes the right thing for Kirklees College to do is to transfer ownership to Holmfirth Tech Ltd who will ensure it is owned and used properly for the benefit of local people and will safeguard its future.

Regardless of which route is followed, the Charity Commission has to give its approval.  It has had three go’s at running public consultation exercises and, as a result of local objections, has decided not to go ahead with the route proposed by Kirklees College but it needs more time to consider which is the right route. 

Kirklees College is pre-empting the Commission’s decision, is refusing to discuss the position any more with Holmfirth Tech and has served an eviction order.

Thelma Walker, our MP and the Holme Valley Parish Council are fully behind Holmfirth Tech and we now need your support!

How you can support us:

Email the Charity Commission using ref 'Holmfirth Adult Education Centre CRM:0023790' CSCorres1@charitycommission.gov.uk
They are the only body who can stop this!

Please ask the Charity Commission to tell Kirklees College to reopen discussions with Holmfirth Tech Ltd so that transferring the ownership of the property can proceed with no further delay.

Centre Manager

Part-time, Temporary

Salary: £25,000.00 /year

See Job Ad

Donate now so we can continue over the Winter

We need to employ a Centre Manager and a Cleaner, pay the gas & electricity bills and carry out essential repairs.

We need £10,000 to keep going for the next six months.

Pledge money to help us buy the building

We need to raise £225,000 by next Spring.

Volunteer

We need help in the café on a Saturday morning and with social media, admin and book keeping support and with keeping the building safe, clean and ready for you, your friends and family to use.

Email us if you can help

Things have been fairly quiet at The Tech over the summer period, but there's lots of activity starting next week and building up to a full programme over the next couple of weeks.  

Take a look at our 'What's On' pages and see what excites you....

We had our first session in The Tech tonight, with Dr Pete's Salsa band practice.  Much more starting on 30th June.

1st Night Video Clip

Today we signed a license to occupy the building and a parallel exclusivity agreement to allow us to raise funds for the purchase!

We have some work to do on the building; give us a few weeks and we'll start getting some activities running :) 

Holmfirth Tech Limited has today received its registration documents from the Financial Conduct Authority.

We are now formally registered as a Community Benefit Society under the Co-operative and Community benefit Societies Act 2014.