The Society is official.
Now the purchase work continues.

Workies members voted to back the proposal for the new Community Benefit Society to buy the building. Now that Society officially exists.

On 2 September 2026, the FCA registered Tumble Workies Community Club Limited as a Community Benefit Society under number 9847.

This is much more than paperwork. It gives the community a separate legal organisation that can own property, sign contracts, apply for funding and protect its purpose through registered rules and a statutory asset lock. It does not mean the FCA has approved the purchase, the finances or the condition of the building.

That vote did not complete the purchase, but it gave us something precious: time.

The particulars supplied for the original 10 September auction are now out of date. The auction has been delayed until 15 October, giving the Society time to submit a formal purchase offer through the solicitors beforehand. The funding, valuation, legal work and due diligence must still be completed properly.

Milestone one is complete

We promised to reach at least £2,500 a month by 1 September. We did it. The campaign now has more than £5,000 in combined backing once separately recorded cash support is included, and monthly pledges have reached £2,606.

That is an amazing effort. Well done, everyone.

But we do not stop here. The next target is £5,000 a month. Reaching it would give the new CBS a much stronger base for professional staff and running costs alongside trading income, grants and other finance. It would also reduce the pressure to borrow every pound the project needs.

Milestone one proved the community wants this. Milestone two helps us build a proper running machine.

What is holding things up?

We have received the club’s provisional creditor list. It totals about £128,000, with more still to be confirmed for outstanding VAT returns, interest and a small number of other bills.

We have now received a three-year profit-and-loss report and sent it to WCVA alongside the known creditor schedule. The 2026 figures remain provisional because further invoices still need to be posted. Full legal, financial and completion information may still be requested during due diligence.

WCVA is preparing its loan recommendation. Once it has the accounts, an independent valuation and the remaining legal and financial information, it can complete its assessment and put the application to its loan panel. The panel will decide whether to approve the funding. It is not guaranteed.

One introduction could help right now

WCVA requires an independent Red Book valuation addressed to it as the proposed mortgage provider. We need a RICS Registered Valuer with experience of licensed commercial or trade-related property. The local firms contacted so far have not been able to take it on.

If you can do this quickly, or know someone who can, please email hello@savetheworkies.com.

What else is moving?

• Licensing preparation has started. We need a new premises licence and a personal licence holder who can be nominated as the Designated Premises Supervisor.
• We are meeting Cefin Campbell MS at the Workies on Friday.
• The Architectural Heritage Fund has invited us to submit a full Project Viability Grant application. No grant has been awarded yet.
• With support from Cwmpas and Co-operatives UK, the Community Benefit Society registration is now complete.
• Community RePaint is helping us explore paint for the front and community rooms.
• The upstairs flat needs major work, but it has real potential. Architectural and interior-design help will be used before decisions are made.
• If funding is approved, we intend to recruit an experienced General Manager to lead the venue day to day.

Once funding is approved and the solicitors are formally progressing the purchase, we will set a date for an open meeting. People will be able to join in person or online. The new organisation will be open and collaborative with anyone who genuinely wants to help.

We won the time to try. Now we have to use it well.