THE EXCHANGE
EVALUATION REPORT November 2018 – March 2020
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EVALUATION PERIOD 4
PROGRAMME + PROJECTS 5
MAJOR PROJECTS 5 HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND DEVELOPMENT 5 HERITAGE FUND DELIVERY PHASE 5 ACTIVITY PROGRAMME 6 DATA COLLECTION 6 ACTIVITY TYPE BREAKDOWN 7 BOOKSTORE 10 COMMUNITY 11 EXHIBITION 13 FESTIVAL 14 FILM 15 GARDEN 16 MARKET 17 PERFORMANCE 18 SCHOOLS 20 TOURS + TALKS 21 WELLBEING 22 CRAFT WORKSHOPS 23 POSTCODE DATA 25 VOLUNTEERING 29
INCOME GENERATION / FINANCE 30
INCOME STREAMS 30 THE BOOKSTORE 30 VENUE HIRE 30 EVENTS 30 GRANT FUNDING SECURED 31 % TRADING INCOME VS. GRANT INCOME 31
2 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 32
NEW JOBS CREATED 32 SOCIAL ENTERPRISES / LOCAL BUSINESS SUPPORTED 33
LOCAL IMPACT 39
SUMMER 2019 SURVEY 39
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY 41
VISITS TO THE EXCHANGE 41 ENERGY USAGE 41
3 Evaluation period
This evaluation report covers November 2018 – 18 March 2020. This includes the majority of the Heritage Lottery Fund Development phase, and 12 months of The Exchange being partially open at Erith’s Old Library. On 18 March 2020, The Exchange closed to the public owing to Covid - 19, and it is at this point where this report ends.
4 Programme + projects
Major projects
Heritage Lottery Fund Development
The Heritage Lottery Fund Development project started in March 2018. The aim of the project was to develop the future plans for The Exchange / The Old Library, this work included:
- Testing activities and developing a long-term activity plan to show what will happen in the building in the future - Working with the design team to develop detailed design plans for The Old Library’s repair and renewal - Developing a 10-year business plan with financial forecasts demonstrating the viability of The Exchange - Developing a costed Management + Maintenance Plan for the building which will inform the operating costs within the Business Plan
Heritage Fund Delivery Phase
After submitting the Stage 2 application to the Heritage Fund (formally the Heritage Lottery Fund) in August 2019, we were informed that we had been successful in November 2019. The Delivery Phase project started in February 2020. This is a 3-year project that includes:
- Capital works to repair and renew The Old Library, and to create a new garden - Staff recruitment – x2 part-time Co-Directors + part-time Community Growth Officer - Delivery of the 3-year Activity Plan as developed in the development phase
5 Activity programme
Data collection
We collected basic data from our activities – number of participants and attendees:
TOTAL NO. OF ACTIVITIES 446 TOTAL NO. OF ATTENDEES 9,395 TOTAL NO. OF PARTICIPANTS 1,901
In February 2020 we started taking more data from event participants, this included life drawing, family craft days and film nights. The data is limited, but tells us:
§ 77% were repeat visits, 23% new visitors
Of those that had been before:
§ 81% had been to a different kind of event § 39% had been to a workshop § 67% had been to an exhibition § 97% had been to the café
We also collected postcode data (see below) and information about how people got to The Exchange (see environmental section).
6 Activity type breakdown
TYPE OF ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION NUMBER ATTENDEES PARTICIPANTS PARTNERS BOOKSTORE BOOKSTORE events include special food events, the 13 452 427 BOOQA Vinyl Party, and the regular games nights. Wandering Meeple DJ Nick Davey (local resident)
COMMUNITY COMMUNITY events include Erith Think Tank, Young 13 220 220 Erith Town Forum person consultation for Y.O.U., the Melting Pot Feast Erith Think Tank and Erith Town Forum and Police meetings. Bexley's African Caribbean Community Association McDonalds
EXHIBITION EXHIBITIONS have included The Story of Windrush, Ex 9 1503 110 Centrepieces Libris - the story of The Old Library, an exhibition by Bexley's African Caribbean Community London Met Students 'Studying Erith', exhibitions by Association LSEC students, and a photography exhibition and London Borough of Bexley annual art exhibition by Centrepieces. London South East College London Metropolitan University Erith + Belvedere Local History Society Bexley Archives
7 FESTIVAL FESTIVALS includes The Garden Party and the Day of 2 700 202 Re-Instate the Dead Festival Old Haven BBQ Theatre Box Performing Arts Academy Bayleaf Yoga Jugnu Bhangra Group Emmanuel the Magnificent Members of the BBC Symphony Orchestra (now Carnegie Ensemble) Lemuel MC Local artists Erith + Belvedere Local History Society Musians - Sophie Gledhill + Tom Fleming BOOQA Shindig Sandra Hall (local resident)
FILM FILM includes a variety of film nights 20 260 50 London Borough of Bexley GARDEN GARDEN includes garden consultation and creation 6 148 148 North West Kent Countryside Partnership events, particularly family workshops.
MARKET MARKETS include those delivered by Collective 8 1920 30 Collective Market Market and The Waste-Less Market CIC The Waste Less Market
8 PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE includes classical concerts, jazz 22 1580 65 London South East College events, theatre and open mic nights Don't Problem Members of BBC Symphony Orchestra (now Carnegie Ensemble) Royal Central School of Speech + Drama London Borough of Bexley Little Fish Theatre Orbit Housing Tom Holliston Local jazz musicians incl. Mat Ward John Stevens (local resident)
SCHOOLS SCHOOLS includes teacher events to inform our future 4 21 11 Local primary schools schools programme
TOURS + TALKS TOURS + TALKS includes tours of the Old Library, and 43 457 0 Hugh Neal (local resident) history talks delivered by the local history society. Open House London Borough of Bexley Robin Lee Architects Lengards Erith + Belvedere Local History Society
WELLBEING WELLBEING includes the yoga sessions delivered by 58 504 214 Bayleaf Yoga Bayleaf Yoga.
CRAFT WORKSHOPS CRAFT WORKSHOPS includes garden, print, ceramics, 248 1630 424 Theatre Box Performing Arts textiles and other arts workshops for adults and Lemuel MC children. Centrepieces Local artists - Christie Cassisa, Lucy Williams Lauren Price (local resident, Schools consultant) Colin Dyer (local resident, print maker) Alexei Hartley (local resident, ceramicist)
9
Bookstore
TYPE OF DESCRIPTION NUMBE ATTENDEE PARTICIPANT PARTNERS ACTIVITY R S S BOOKSTORE BOOKSTORE events include special food events, the 13 452 427 BOOQA Vinyl Party, and the regular games nights. Wandering Meeple DJ Nick Davey (local resident)
10 Community
TYPE OF DESCRIPTION NUMBE ATTENDEES PARTICIPANT PARTNERS ACTIVITY R S COMMUNITY COMMUNITY events include Erith Think Tank, Young 13 220 220 Erith Town Forum person consultation for Y.O.U., the Melting Pot Feast Erith Think Tank and Erith Town Forum and Police meetings. Bexley's African Caribbean Community Association McDonalds
11 12 Exhibition
TYPE OF ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION NUMBER ATTENDEES PARTICIPANTS PARTNERS EXHIBITION EXHIBITIONS have included The Story of Windrush, Ex 9 1503 110 Centrepieces Libris - the story of The Old Library, an exhibition by Bexley's African Caribbean Community London Met Students 'Studying Erith', exhibitions by Association LSEC students, and a photography exhibition and London Borough of Bexley annual art exhibition by Centrepieces. London South East College London Metropolitan University Erith + Belvedere Local History Society Bexley Archives
13 Festival
TYPE OF ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION NUMBER ATTENDEES PARTICIPANTS PARTNERS FESTIVAL FESTIVALS includes The Garden Party and the Day 2 700 202 Re-Instate of the Dead Festival Old Haven BBQ Theatre Box Performing Arts Academy Bayleaf Yoga Jugnu Bhangra Group Emmanuel the Magnificent Members of the BBC Symphony Orchestra (now Carnegie Ensemble) Lemuel MC Local artists Erith + Belvedere Local History Society Musians - Sophie Gledhill + Tom Fleming BOOQA Shindig Sandra Hall (local resident)
14 Film
TYPE OF ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION NUMBER ATTENDEES PARTICIPANTS PARTNERS FILM FILM includes a variety of film nights 20 260 50 London Borough of Bexley
15 Garden
TYPE OF ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION NUMBER ATTENDEES PARTICIPANTS PARTNERS GARDEN GARDEN includes garden consultation and creation 6 148 148 North West Kent Countryside events, particularly family workshops. Partnership
16 Market
TYPE OF ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION NUMBER ATTENDEES PARTICIPANTS PARTNERS MARKET MARKETS include those delivered by Collective Market and 8 1920 30 Collective Market The Waste-Less Market CIC The Waste Less Market
17 Performance
TYPE OF ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION NUMBER ATTENDEES PARTICIPANTS PARTNERS PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE includes classical concerts, jazz 22 1580 65 London South East College events, theatre and open mic nights Don't Problem Members of BBC Symphony Orchestra (now Carnegie Ensemble) Royal Central School of Speech + Drama London Borough of Bexley Little Fish Theatre Orbit Housing Tom Holliston Local jazz musicians incl. Mat Ward John Stevens (local resident)
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19 Schools
TYPE OF ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION NUMBER ATTENDEES PARTICIPANTS PARTNERS SCHOOLS SCHOOLS includes teacher events to inform our future schools programme 4 21 11 Local primary schools
20
Tours + talks
TYPE OF ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION NUMBER ATTENDEES PARTICIPANTS PARTNERS TOURS + TALKS TOURS + TALKS includes tours of the Old Library, 43 457 0 Hugh Neal and history talks delivered by the local history society. Open House London Borough of Bexley Robin Lee Architects Lengards Erith + Belvedere Local History Society
21 Wellbeing
TYPE OF ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION NUMBER ATTENDEES PARTICIPANTS PARTNERS WELLBEING WELLBEING includes the yoga sessions delivered by Bayleaf Yoga. 58 504 214 Bayleaf Yoga
22 Craft workshops
TYPE OF ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION NUMBER ATTENDEES PARTICIPANTS PARTNERS CRAFT WORKSHOPS CRAFT WORKSHOPS includes garden, print, ceramics, textiles and 248 1630 424 Theatre Box Performing Arts other arts workshops for adults and children. Lemuel MC Centrepieces Local artists - Christie Cassisa, Lucy Williams Lauren Price (local resident, schools consultant) Colin Dyer (local resident, printmaker) Alexei Hartley (local resident, ceramicist)
23 24 Postcode data
In February 2020 we started taking postcodes from attendees to our events. The data set (47 in total) is limited as information was only taken for a bit over a month. The images on the following pages show where people were travelling from. Key points to make are:
§ People travelling from as far away as Greenwich, further towards London, and Shorne in Kent § From within Bexley, people are travelling from Bexleyheath, Barnehurst, Northumberland Heath and Abbey Wood § The majority of people live in Erith § We did not get many visits from Slade Green or Colyers.
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28 Volunteering
Over this period, we have had over 2,000 hours of voluntary support. Using the Heritage Fund’s value calculator for volunteers, this values you at c. £67,116 worth of support.
Our volunteer numbers at the end of this period were 45 individuals.
29 Income generation / Finance
Income streams
The Bookstore
The Bookstore Café + Bar has been the principal income stream over this period. It has also been the primary reason for people to visit, and the principal “way-in” into other areas of Exchange activity. Over this period, The Bookstore has received roughly 20,000 visits. And it has generated over £150K.
Venue hire
Venue hire generated over £8,000 during this period with little marketing effort. Principally this was meetings and filming shoots. This is set to become a key income generator post the building project.
Events
We charged for some events during this period. Income generated amount to over £1,500.
30 Grant funding secured
Much of The Exchange’s income in this period has been generated through grant funding (£250,261). Additional funding has also been secured by The Exchange for The Old Library building, but this money is going to London Borough of Bexley who are managing the building contract. The table below outlines the funding secured by The Exchange for Exchange activity and The Old Library.
Funder Amount Towards National Lottery Heritage Fund £980,000 Second phase of capital works on Old Library Three years funding towards activity including salaries London Borough of Bexley £200,000 Second phase of capital works on Old Library Power to Change £115,285 Co-Director salaries Community Build project Office equipment Communications support Training costs Orbit Housing £50,000 Towards core costs / total project spend National Lottery Community Fund £38,500 Community Growth Officer salary Engagement costs Veolia Environmental £36,000 Garden capital works Access Fund £14,650 Development of a community shares offer TOTAL £1,434,435
% trading income vs. grant income
In the financial year April 2019 – March 2020, the percentage of trading income was 40%, compared with 60% of grant funding. The aim is increase the proportion of trading income over time so that The Exchange is not reliant on grant funding.
31 Economic development
New jobs created
Job title Days per week Co-Director 3 (0.6 FT) Co-Director 3 (0.6 FT) Community Growth Officer 3 (0.6 FT) Café Manager 5 (FT) Head Chef 5 (FT) Junior Chef 3.5 (0.7 FT) Café Assistants / Kitchen Porter 3.5 (0.7 equivalent) TOTAL FTE 5.2 FTE
32 Social enterprises / local business supported
Theatre Box Performing Arts
Jade Flannery came into The Exchange in December 2018 for a drink with friends during a pop-up event we were running. We got chatting and she said it was her dream to set up classes for young people in Performing Arts and Drama. The Exchange gave Jade affordable space to run these sessions so that she could develop her business – Theatre Box. Prior to C-10 lockdown, Jade was doing 4 classes a week in drama, musical theatre and dance.
Jade will be continuing her workshops at The Exchange, and we are also now in conversation about a more formalised partnership between Theatre Box and The Exchange to develop skills development opportunities for young people to learn set and costume making using our workshop spaces.
33 Wasteless Market CIC
Teresa Ewart wanted to start a market that showcased environmentally friendly products and producers. We gave her the space at The Exchange, and supported with early marketing, to develop an audience for the Waste-Less Market which launched at The Exchange. These markets are some of The Exchange’s most popular events, and Teresa now runs various markets in different boroughs, and has now moved her market place online.
34 Bayleaf Yoga
Ashley Bailey already ran yoga sessions in Abbey Wood but was looking for space in Erith. Ashley (before COVID) was running two sessions a week at The Exchange, and we were also developing plans for wellbeing weekends and festivals, linking in other venues and businesses in the local area. Ashley and The Exchange now work together in a range of ways including production of digital content.
35 Lemuel MC
The Exchange provided Lemuel MC with free studio space, in exchange for time to deliver workshops and community engagement in textiles. The Exchange and Lemuel MC also partnered on a project alongside the National Trust’s Red House, funded by Arts Council England, to test and develop a new business model of craft / community production. This was Lemuel MC’s first funding application. This project has informed The Exchange’s updated business plan.
36 Old Haven BBQ
Old Haven BBQ were a new organisation whose first events were at The Exchange, including our Garden Party. Old Haven provide great BBQ menus with good quality produce and menus. Since this event, Old Haven have delivered their pop-up at a range of events including at pubs, birthday parties, outside butchers and at local breweries.
37 Alexei Hartley (a careful hand)
Alexei Hartley is a local ceramicist who took free studio space at The Exchange in exchange for time to deliver workshops and develop ideas for the future ceramics workshop at The Exchange. Alexei is also – by day – a brand management consultant and was also able to support The Exchange in developing its organisational vision, mission and values. The relationship with Alexei continues as he has joined The Exchange’s board of Trustees.
38 Local impact
Summer 2019 survey
In Summer 2019 we carried out a survey that looked at the local impact of The Exchange, recording satisfaction rates in The Exchange, exploring whether people were making new local connections, and changes in perception of place (i.e. are more people likely to spend time in the town). Here are the key results:
§ 112 people responded § 54% had visited more than 6 times, 78% had visited more than 3 times § 65% had made new connections, 20% had made over 10 new connections § 98% thought TEX was positive for the area § 99% are more likely to do something in the local area since TEX opened
39 A few quotes from respondents to this survey:
“A good meeting place in an iconic famous building. Home made food! Well cooked and individual. My eggs on toast very well cooked. Coffee good. Very good for the locals, people need to meet others for their health and well being. Mr Carnegie would be proud! I will pass the word, why haven’t Bexley Council realised the potential before/ Friendly Staff, Thank you – I’ll be back!”
“From what I observe it’s bringing community back to an area that has been forgotten. Great place to eat and socialize. Good groups running, especially drama for children. Also looking too get involved in arts & crafts here. Erith has no community centre or hub and the Exchange fills that void.”
“It has the potential to provide a hub for the community which does not appear to be anywhere else in Erith (not including churches, but I’m not religious). It is also good to see such a nice building restored and put to work for people to enjoy today.”
“Community resource with many facets; giving pride in Erith’s history back to people, best food & drink in whole of L B Bexley, always helpful staff, taking forward Erith’s future with the Think Tank.”
“Having lived in the area for 3 years, the Exchange has become a welcoming meeting place for the Community bringing people together who would have never met under different circumstances.”
40 Environmental sustainability
Visits to The Exchange
We collected visitor data in February to March 2020 which included asking people how they travelled to The Exchange. This data set is limited (47 in total), but tells us:
§ 47% travelled by car § 36% walked § 13% travelled by bus § 2% by train § 2% by bike
Energy usage
In the financial year April 2019 – March 2020, average monthly energy usage:
Gas – 5,546kwh per month, which amounts to 25kwh per month per square metre of the building that was in usage Electric – 3,151kwh per month, which amounts to 14kwh per month per square metre of the building that was in usage
These figures will be used as a baseline for further monitoring and reporting, with the aim of reducing the kwh use per month.
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