INGLETON’S i centre which provides spaces for hire to small businesses and community groups is looking to grow its remit with the vulnerable in mind and has begun a survey to let people air their views.

The not-for-profit facility which opened in 2013 on the site of the former middle school has created provision for such enterprises as a bakery, gym, nursery, hand crafted jewellery, fitness, dance and educational classes, sports massage, web design, performance tuning, and a dog grooming parlour. providing affordable space for rent and hire.

A spokesman for the centre said: “After eight years there are many small businesses and activities which use the i centre facilities. The directors who manage the i centre are now looking to broaden the scope of provision of what the i centre can offer as a response to Covid 19 in the locality.

“With the increased isolation that many of us are feeling it is particularly important that we look to new opportunities to bring the vulnerable together. With this in mind the i centre is looking to create two multipurpose spaces to help develop small businesses and wellbeing related activities.”

The i centre at Ingleton plans to “embrace kindness” to serve the locality with a multipurpose garden for health and multimedia room to help develop businesses, individuals and groups.

The first space would be to make a multipurpose garden with an aim to “Embrace Kindness”, promoting health making use of the disused garden in the central quadrangle. The garden would provide a safe space for the frail, elderly, those suffering from dementia, illness, social isolation, depression, disability and small children under five years old.

The second space would be a multimedia room to encourage education, businesses and connectivity. Nationally there are more activities and services moving online. T

he multimedia room would have specialist equipment, such as cameras, B4RN broadband connection and green screen technology.

The space would be available to hire at an affordable rate.

Both proposals require sourced funding and as part of that funding application the plans are up for consultation and the community has an opportunity to have its say.

There is an online survey available for people to give feedback and suggestions on the proposals.

To take part visit the i centre website at http://www.theicentre.org.uk/ or go to the Facebook page Ingleton Middle CIC. For a paper copy you can contact Studio42arts@gmail.com The survey runs to mid December.