The Black Mountain Centre (Wales)
Background Info
Organisation name : The Black Mountain Centre
Contact Name: Ffion Davies
Address: Cwmgarw Road, Brynaman, Ammanford, SA18 1BU
Organisational Structure
How would you describe your organisation? – Social Enterprise, Not-for-profit, Voluntary, Commercial or Public Sector?
The Black Mountain Centre is a registered Charity.
Brief background to the organisation:-
Age of organisation? 10 years
Target Group/Beneficiaries? Residents of the Upper Amman Valley, young and old, individuals of all abilities, culture and background.
Are the people you ‘trade’ with the same as the beneficiaries? The Centre is utilised by residents, visitors and local businesses. The people that we trade with do not necessarily use the Centre.
Geographical remit? We serve Brynaman, the Upper Amman Valley and beyond.
Who was responsible for setting up the organisation? Community members formed a committee following the closure of the old infant school building.
What is the organisation’s social mission?
To develop and deliver sustainable activities that are worthwhile within the community and continue to provide a much needed resource, contributing significantly to future employment and regeneration of Brynaman and the Upper Amman Valley.
Have you got a ‘mission statement’? Yes, see above
What is the ownership structure? Charity
Staff/Volunteers
Number of paid staff (FT & PT)?
FT: 4
PT: 4
Number of volunteers and average weekly contribution?
15 volunteers registered with the ‘Friends of the Black Mountain Centre’ group.15-25 hours contributed by these volunteers in the Black Mountain Cafe.
We are setting up a time banking scheme that will hopefully recruit 100 active citizens. The time banking network is being developed by the development officer and a task and finish group made up of volunteers.
Are the people originally responsible for setting up the organisation still involved and in what capacity?
A few of the original members are still involved as trustees or volunteers.
Governance
What is the legal status of the organisation? The Centre is a registered Charity.
Number of directors/trustees? 13 trustees
Management/governance structure and relationship?
We have a Board of Trustees, an executive committee of four members. The strategic development officer is employed to manage the Centre on a day to day basis.
Who has the main responsibility for strategic and business planning?
The Strategic Development Officer and Board of Trustees.
Management and Direction
Is there a trading/sustainability plan in place or is trading activity more opportunistic or market led?
Our business plan clearly outlines our sustainability plan.
What is the approach to risk/investing in new income streams?
As a registered charity risk taking is not an option.
What style of management would you say works best for your organisation? e.g. autocratic, democratic etc, (‘what works best’, not ‘what do you aim for?’)
DEMOCRATIC
Is there a management succession plan in place?
We have a leadership and management strategy encompassing the qualities required for managers.
Finance
What was the organisation’s initial source of revenue/funding?
Funding
What is your policy in terms of distribution or reinvestment of any profits or surplus?
Any profits will be reinvested into the charity
Context and Impact
Who are your beneficiaries?
The local community
Who are your stakeholders?
The local community, grant funders
Who are your main trading or delivery partners – private consumers, other not-for-profit organisations, public sector or private sector businesses?
Not-for-profit organisations, public sector, community groups
Operational scope – are you looking to move into other trading or delivery areas?
We’ll try anything to keep the Centre going!
Opportunity – Is the current economic climate an opportunity or a threat to your organisation?
It is a threat to our organisation in that money is tight within the community and thus local people do not have the disposable income to spend.
