2014 – Feasibility Funding

In 2014, PCT joined with Renfrewshire Council in preparing the development of a key project identified in the Asset Heritage Strategy report by SLR, a consultancy firm engaged by Renfrewshire Council.

The project at that stage was for the creation of a 350+ theatre in the town. It also highlighted the need for the Council to work with community groups to deliver on the report. With the Council’s approval, PCT was formed to head up the project. PCT enhanced the original concept of a 350-seat theatre to a flexible 500 seat capacity theatre and developed the vision by adding in a small-scale cinema and a performance academy for education and community groups.

• Renfrewshire Council: £32,640

PCT received an ‘Invest in Renfrewshire – Social Enterprise Small Grants Fund’ award of £32,640 from the Council to carry out a Feasibility Study which was commissioned, by PCT.

BOP Consulting was appointed to carry out the Study.

2018 – Support for Outline Business Case and associated activity for Baker Street

• Renfrewshire Council: £10,000 – Community Empowerment Fund
• Social Investment Scotland: £5,000
• Scottish Land Fund: £22,150
• Paisley First (bid): £1,000
• Merchants House of Glasgow: £5,000
• Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce: £1,250
• Big Lottery: £5,000

From the above funding, £40,410 was used to appoint Craigmount Consulting, one of the UK’s leading Cinema and Theatre Consultants to prepare the Outline Business Case for the project. All contracts were awarded following a full and rigorous procurement process.

2019 – Support for Architectural Study and associated activity for a Paisley High Street, Community Cinema.

• Renfrewshire Council: £ £6,760.00– Community Empowerment Fund
• Regional Screen Scotland: £5,000 (a Cinema Near You )

The above funding, £ 11,760.00 was used to appoint THREESIXTY ARCHITECTURE, to complete an architectural study and a feasibility study report to document the suitability of a town centre building for conversion and use as a Community Cinema. To find a site in the town, PCT have recently carried out a light touch review of locations within Paisley’s High Street. At the conclusion of this process, the property at 7-11 High Street (Asset) has been shortlisted as having potential to meet our requirements.

June 2021 – Support for Levelling Up Fund Application – PXLS Project.

• Renfrewshire Council: £15,600 – Community Empowerment Fund

This application relates to funding the appointment of external consultants Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) to compile documentation related to a grant application. LSH provide expertise on funding applications and administrative compiling of the application documents.

Renfrewshire Council, in partnership with the Scottish Government and Scotland’s Towns Partnership supported an exercise to reimagine Paisley’s future in 10 years’ time.

The outcome was ‘A Vision for Paisley town centre 2030’ which was developed by Glasgow based Architects ThreeSixty Architecture and published in January 2020.

It concluded the need for Community driven projects that would deliver future leisure destinations in the town that would act as key attractors. These would be vital at re-energising the High Street by maximising footfall and dwell time.  At the conclusion of a review process, PCT decided the property at 7-11 High Street (Asset) be shortlisted as having potential to meet our requirements for a Digital Community Hub including a Community Cinema, and Digital Skills Academy. A subsequent Feasibility Study has concluded the chosen building is suitable for PCT’s requirements.

The funds requested in this application will enable appointment of professional expertise to submit a fully compliant government grant funding bid.

The application deadline was mid-June 2021.

‘Pro Bono’

In addition PCT benefitted from more than £500,000 of voluntary and ‘Pro Bono’ work. This has included significant work by PCT Trustees, partners and Glasgow based Architects, Stallan-Brand Architects, ThreeSixty Architecture and QS firm Gardiner Theobold.