'Bimbling Home' to open our community pub-hub

Aim

We’re walking from Cambridgeshire back home to Huddersfield to start raising funds towards opening a non-profit micro-pub and community hub.

Our Story:

Last November we set up Positive Earth Community CIC with the intention of creating a micro-pub and community space - a blend of craft beer, creative arts and live music - that will support mental health and wellbeing in the Colne Valley area of Huddersfield.  As a Community Interest Company, profits from the commercial activities will be used to provide a range of community services.

It's not an idea that came about overnight!

We've combined our experience in hospitality, arts and wellbeing, with a desire to create a safe and inclusive space where everyone is welcome - no questions asked. Offering activities that are accessible, affordable or even free of charge, the focus will be on improving mental health, easing loneliness and building a sense of community; a feeling of belonging. 

One of our team is a creative therapist and has seen first-hand the impact spaces such as this can make on village communities. 

However, it's still early days and we need your support to bring our ideas to reality. 

So what's this about 'Bimbling Home'?

Two of our directors, Dave and Jac, have spent the past three years living off-grid in Cambridgeshire - you can find out more about that on our social pages but the short story is... they miss Yorkshire!! 

So they are walking back to Huddersfield to draw lots of attention to our project and hopefully help us raise more funds.  Their journey will be documented on our various channels with key updates shared here too, so our supporters can really become a part of creating this community from the outset - some people have already offered to join them for part of the walk!

How can you help?

Well this is a crowdfunder after all so we'll start with the obvious! All the donations we receive go directly into the CIC and you can read more below about how we will be spending the funds raised.  Literally 'every little helps' and we've got some exclusive rewards available when you make a pledge.  

We have merchandise available for sale on our website or you can support our 'easy-fundraising' cause each time you shop on-line and it won't cost you a penny. 

Or how about donating your skills?  Instead of money we would love to hear from anyone who would be able to donate their time or knowledge to support our project. We’ve added below a list of practical help that could help us achieve our goals.

Most of all, if you're excited by our project then please share it with your friends and family. Sign up for our newsletter, follow us on social media and generally help us spread the word. 

If you've heard enough to make a pledge then we thank you from the bottom of our hearts... or read on for the finer details!

Our Vision:

We aim to create an all-inclusive community space that provides:

• social connection and a warm welcome for all.
• free activities, refreshments and a shared meal for anyone who needs it.
• a range of activities focused on supporting mental health and wellbeing.
• a ‘no questions asked’ policy so that everyone can access the facilities without stigma or judgement.
• flexibility to meet the varying needs of the local community as the hub evolves.

The CIC model enables us to create a profit from commercial activities then re-invest those profits to provide services for the community.  

Running as a bar Thurs-Sun, the venue will focus on craft beers from independent breweries, other local/artisan products and a strong range of alcohol-free options. There will be regular events such as creative workshops, live music, theme nights and tap takeovers. 

Outside the commercial trading hours the venue will be open as a community hub and warm space, offering volunteer-led activities that allow anyone within the area to access similar benefits to the commercial activities – i.e. social connection, learning new skills, etc. – but without the cost/pay as you feel.  It's a space for people to have a cup of tea and a chat, share a simple meal or gain advice from local support groups. 

Why Does It Matter?

Events such as these bring together people with similar interests, improving social connection within the community, offering the opportunity to learn/practice new skills and enhancing wellbeing. It also provides opportunity for collaboration with other businesses and groups within the area.

We know from experience that people come to these spaces for a cuppa but gain so much more; a reason to leave the house; the only time they don't eat alone; a few minutes of normality; and we've seen how people can blossom and grow in confidence through the activities we've facilitated. 

Why A Pub?

Pubs have a long history of providing community service and meeting the human need for social connection.  The traditional pub industry has been in decline for many years and we feel this has contributed to a rising disconnect within communities.  We have seen however that ‘the pub’ can be re-invented to meet the changing needs of the community, once again bringing people together in a meaningful way.

How We Will Use The Money Raised

We have a huge project ahead of us and this crowdfunder is just the first step.  In time, we can apply for grants and local council funding but many of these require premises - which we don't yet have. 

We have experience and enthusiasm in abundance... but no capital to throw at this - we need to raise everything from scratch.  So this first stage of fundraising is to help us secure premises, plus the permissions, licences and insurances we need to be eligible for local authority support in the Autumn round of funding. 

Until we have premises, it's hard to know exactly how much we need, but we've made some educated guesses based on units currently available to rent in the area.

However, the more we raise, the sooner we can bring our project to life and create this valuable space for the community. Stretching beyond our initial target would mean we can push on with the refurbishment, purchase equipment and opening stock... and maybe even be able to start paying ourselves a wage! 

We know we're asking a lot... but small donations soon add up and we believe this project could really make a difference to the quality of life for so many people in the area.

If you have any further questions in regards to how we will use your hard-earned cash please don't hesitate to reach out.

What if we don’t reach our target?

This is a ‘keep what you raise’ campaign so whatever happens, the funds we receive will still go towards bringing our project to life. If we don’t reach our target within 12 weeks we will just keep going until we do! We’re not relying on this campaign alone and we have plans in the pipeline for further fundraising once we’re back in Huddersfield. 

Not reaching our target within the timeframe may mean that some reward options are delayed… but we will keep everyone updated should that be the case. 

As a CIC (Community Interest Community) we are required to have an ‘asset lock’ registered with companies house - that’s another charity or CIC which would receive any assets, should our organisation fold. This is so that no private individual can gain from projects intended for the benefit of the community. Our asset lock is Parish Events CIC in Huddersfield who support grassroots live music and emerging artists. 

So in the unlikely event that our project didn’t get off the ground, all funds raised would still be used to support creative arts in the local community… however it would have to be pretty extreme circumstances to prevent us from fulfilling this dream! 

Benefits in Kind

If you would like to support our project with your skills and knowledge, rather than a financial contribution, here are some of the things we may be needing help with. 

* Finding and securing suitable premises! 

* Practical help with the refurbishment; tradesmen, plumbing/electrics, general labouring, decorating.  

* Facilitation of activities that support wellbeing. 

* Financial / legal advice and support with grant applications.

* Marketing and promotion, press contacts and social media. 

It's not an exhaustive list so if you feel you have something to offer please get in touch. 

A Final Thank you…

If you’ve reached this point we really appreciate you taking the time and interest to read about our project, so here's a big thank you from all of us! 

Dave, Jac, Natali and Vix. 

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 4th July 2026 at 11:35am