Following the recent meeting of our board we’re delighted to share the approved strategy for Bannockburn House Trust:
Our Purpose / Aim
Bannockburn House Trust (BHT) is a community owned organisation. BHT operates and manages the restoration and conservation of a nationally important historical building and estate for the benefit of the local community of Bannockburn. The 30-acre estate is owned by the Trust on behalf of the Bannockburn community. It is managed by a Board led by local people, supported by a Senior Project Director, appropriate professionals and competent enthusiastic volunteers.
The restored house and gardens will be an important visitor attraction sustained through a variety of commercial activities. Our aim is that Bannockburn House is recognised as a demonstration of the benefits that a community led project can achieve in terms of:
- education, training and employment
- community exchanges reciprocity, co-operation, health and wellbeing
- the promotion and understanding of our local history and heritage
Values / Key Principles
Our values and principles guide our decision making at all levels in the organisation.
- BHT functions through local leadership, engagement and volunteer participation
- BHT is the custodian, restorer and promoter of a nationally important historical asset
- Our social and environmental objectives will be balanced by commercial trading that is supported by grant funding and sponsorship
- We aim to adopt environmental sustainability practices in our activities
Medium term ambition
By 2026 we will seek to:
- make significant progress in the restoration of the house and gardens
- develop, using local trades/trainees where feasible
- car parking
- visitor facilities and a café within the chauffer’s cottage and stables
- be in the top 5 most visited heritage attractions in the Stirling City area
- maximise the use of facilities by the community for social / recreational / leisure purposes
- provide a wide variety of professional and volunteer led events
- maximise the income potential in all activities to operate and maintain the estate
Key Activities
In the next two years our priorities will be to:
- ensure the main house is structurally safe, wind and watertight and presentable
- maintain and develop an appropriate volunteer base and workforce
- provide car parking and develop the chauffer’s cottage and stables
- continue to develop and enhance the gardens, parklands and woodland
- maintain & increase volunteer contributions
- organise events to generate income and community engagement
- seek and maximise fundraising from available sources to support capital development and operational expenditure
Human Resources and Network
People remain BHT’s most important asset and resource. We will seek to:
- inspire and motivate volunteer input through sound informative communication and empathetic management
- promote and obtain support from key stakeholders such as Stirling Council, Historic and Environment Scotland and the Scottish Government
- maintain an appropriate workforce (employed and volunteer) to optimise quality of service and production
- play an active part in ‘Covid Recovery’ plans for health and social support, training and employment
- ensure the Board and Executive Management provide sound leadership and act as promoting champions
- invest and practice succession planning
- maintain an up to date website and regular communication on social media platforms
Finance
- Funding – secure sufficient funds for capital development that can deliver the business plan Explore options for affordable loan funding potential where appropriate
- Financial Management – maintain robust financial and budgeting processes that ensure prudent, competent and secure stewardship of financial resources
- Financial Records – Maintain transparent financial records and accounts and monitor outturn against budget. Provide regular financial reports to the Board
- Business Planning – maintain a robust rolling 3 year business plan that sets out priorities and is updated as necessary to take account of forecast income
- Visitor Charging – agree a visitor charging strategy for designated areas of access
Project Outline Activity and Targets
- Secure funding for priority work on the main house and chauffeurs’ cottage.
- Secure funds to develop the proposed chauffeurs’ cottage café and event space, car parking and volunteer hub. In the meantime operate a temporary café within the main house
- Secure and deliver the City Region Deal by 2024
- Deliver and complete external main building repairs by 2023
- Establish ‘Bannock Bothies’ self-catering accommodation by 2023
- Operate an employability project of some 2-30 trainees pa by 2024
- Maintain volunteer numbers at 200 with an active base of 100 active volunteers every year