THOR Objectives and Ambitions

1900812

Proposition

The Heart of Ramsey

OUR OBJECTIVES ..... 1 PROMOTE AND DEVELOP ..... 2 WORK AND SELL ..... 3 MEET AND EAT ..... 4 PERFORM AND PLAY ..... 6 CREATE AND CELEBRATE ..... 8

Our Objectives

Support The Community

We will:

• Build a community hub at the heart of Ramsey
• Be a stable and reliable help to all
• Facilitate existing organisations to supplement and extend their activities
• Act as a recognised point of contact for information, interaction and engagement

Support Ramsey \& The North

We will:

• Preserve Courthouse heritage
• Promote local History and Heritage
• Prioritise and promote Ramsey and the North.

Support Manx Commerce \& Culture

We will:

• Act as venue for any and all enterprise (music lessons, farmers markets, artists in residence, local cottage industry)
• Provide a space for entrepreneurs to grow, like the Eagle Labs.
• Host and promote cultural events
• Build and maintain a top class performance venue
• Provide a platform for advertising and promotion

Support Inclusivity And Opportunity

We will support and empower:

• The young
• The elderly
• The disabled
• Families, and single parents
• New residents
• Business and Entrepreneurs
• Individuals and groups

Promote And Develop

THOR believe that the renovated Courthouse will be an ideal venue and central location

• for the promotion of everything Ramsey and its locality have to offer as a place to live, visit, trade and play
• to provide a central and accessible site from which information can be shared and exchanged
• to lend itself to the development of skills and crafts and a market place for individuals and businesses alike.

Ambition 1

To highlight local produce and showcase local talent by:

• promoting and hosting trade fairs, exhibitions and performance by local artists
• as far as possible serving locally produced and prepared fare in the Café
• providing promotional and advertising opportunities to all local traders
• presenting local cottage industries with an outlet for orders and sales.

Ambition 2

To create a place of discovery by:

• providing a platform for marketing Ramsey and the north as a place to live, visit, trade and play
• exhibiting, promoting, informing and offering occasion to learn
• encouraging and facilitating a 'have a go/try and see' ethos amongst users.

Ambition 3

To provide opportunities to learn and grow by:

• building confidence, increasing self-worth and gaining experience through involvement, inclusivity and volunteering
• encouraging learning, facilitating the acquisition and practicing of new skills and widening social contact
• breaking down perceived barriers to inclusion and capability.

Work And Sell

Ramsey Courthouse has a fantastic central location. Combined with enhanced accessibility and a modified layout, it will be ideally suited as both a place to work and for local commerce to flourish.

Ambition 1

To provide convenient, pleasant and private work spaces within a vibrant and airy setting, by means of:

• well-equipped offices and desk space available for short- and medium-term hire
• private rooms for hire which lend themselves to meetings, private and group tuition and personal study
• on site catering facilities
• the provision of a neutral, central and buoyant atmosphere that lends itself to networking opportunities.

Ambition 2

To offer managed and guided work experience to:

• volunteers
• young people and school students
• those with learning differences, disabilities and in circumstances that don't lend themselves to permanent employment.

Ambition 3

To encourage and promote local commerce by creating a market place:

• As an outlet for a wealth of local cottage industries, either directly or as a point of contact for orders and deliveries
• For trade fairs, exhibitions and auctions
• To host regular markets for the sale of local produce
• For the promotion and advertising of local business of all forms.

Meet And Eat

THOR has identified a need for an attractive, accessible and inclusive venue in the heart of Ramsey for all to forge friendships,, conduct business and share good times.

Ambition 1

To create a meeting place with no barriers, where all are welcome and in which the people of Ramsey and the North are involved and feel a sense of ownership and pride by:

• providing appealing and multifunctional spaces where people can come to share time, company, interest and passions.
• creating an atmosphere in which people feel welcomed, included and valued.
• optimising chances for participation at all levels.

Ambition 2

To maximise footfall and contact so as to best ascertain the needs and wants of the community, leading to optimal use of resources through:

• affordable and appealing café facilities to provide opportunities for initial conversation, building relationships and ascertaining needs
• providing a varied and flexible program of events through which passions can be discovered and shared and skills learnt and practiced.

Ambition 3

To encourage social engagement across all perceived sectors of the community through:

• the provision of carefully planned, targeted and flexible schemes and programs
• creating and facilitating occasions for encouraging involvement by matching needs to potential providers.

Ambition 4

To provide employment and volunteering opportunities as a means of:

• encouraging self- worth, self-confidence, a sense of belonging and wellbeing
• giving work experience (long and short term) as a means of personal development
• offering those with learning differences, disabilities and in circumstances that don't lend themselves to permanent employment an opportunity to gain work place skills.

Ambition 5

To provide affordable and appealing café facilities offering a basic but high-quality menu that:

• as far as possible, is locally sourced and prepared produce
• will accommodate a full spectrum of dietary needs - including, but not limited to, vegetarian, vegan, lactose/gluten-free, and allergy conscious options.
• will be prepared in a sustainable and environmentally-conscious manner, with minimal waste.

Perform And Play

THOR has identified a need for an arts hub in the North of the Isle of Man to be:

• A thriving venue offering a diverse program of performance and exhibitions
• State of the art facilities for groups and individuals to develop their craft, rehearse, display, perform and interact

Ramsey Courthouse is a distinct and iconic building that contributes to the community's sense of identity through the evolution of Manx arts.

Ambition 1

To provide a high-quality focal point for artists of all genres to meet, develop, train \& perform.

• Ramsey Courthouse affords an island wide opportunity as an accessible hub for artists to gather, share ideas and showcase their art
• The building of relationships between different performers, audiences and community is invaluable to the progression of art.
• Proposed modifications to the building lend themselves to small and large group needs, individual and 1-1 sessions that can be tailored to meet the needs of all artists and audiences.

Ambition 2

To be a distinctly Manx venue aiming to build community via experiencing, viewing and showcasing artistic talent in all forms.

• The space will facilitate all art forms, bringing together new and diverse audiences and allowing inclusive access to high quality teaching and workshops in all art forms
• Bringing people together through the Arts increases sense of community, solidarity and common interest resulting in a positive sense of wellbeing
• The enhancement of this historic building will further contribute to an increasingly vibrant area and will make an important contribution to the social and cultural identity of the Island.

Ambition 3

To establish a venue which is not only renowned Island wide but also further afield, connecting artists, performers and audiences by:

• Enabling the acquisition of skills and advancement into new areas.

• By establishing managed media presence to promote Ramsey Courthouse for showcasing Manx Arts nationally
• By encouraging and targeting those who would not usually see, or experience local art as potential audience.

Create And Celebrate

At its heart THOR aims to provide Ramsey and the North with a well-designed and flexible space, from which:

• creativity can be embraced and blossom
• community can be celebrated
• achievements recognised.

Ambition 1

To encourage use of the building for creativity through:

• hosting workshops, creative clubs and groups
• smaller rooms that lend themselves to tuition, mentoring, the sharing of ideas and workplaces

Ambition 2

To manage opportunity creatively by:

• forward thinking, resourceful, imaginative, flexible and diverse use if resources
• the ongoing monitoring of feedback from residents, visitors and businesses to enable progressive planning
• maintaining an open minded and positive approach to suggestions and change.

Ambition 3

To celebrate creativity and success through:

• The design of a light, airy and flexible space that lends itself to performance, exhibition and display
• The use of a wide range of media to publish and champion events, activities and achievements in Ramsey and the North

Ambition 4

To create 'community' by:

• facilitating and encouraging the building of relationships and the forging of friendships
• encouraging involvement and recognising the benefits of 'giving' for personal wellbeing
• hosting and supporting social interaction at every level via as many means possible!