2016 Vale of Usk LEADER Funding Application Form

Reference and title of your Project: Chepstow Yoga Centre Pilot Project __________

Section 1: Information about your group or business

Main Contact Details

Name: Christine Cox / Lorna Kennedy

Telephone Number: 07837 425176

Your role in the Group:

Director Email address: Christine.cox21@outlook.com

About your Group

Group Name: Chepstow Yoga Centre Pilot Project

When was it established?

June 2018

Your Group’s main purpose:

To create a community hub through the teaching and coordination of yoga

Do you have a bank account?

Section 2: Details about your project – please see attached score sheet to see how your project will be scored.

2aProject Post Code Project Start Date Project End Date

NP16 5HH 17th September 2018 30th September 2020

Please give a detailed description of your project starting with its concise Aim.

The aim of developing Chepstow Yoga Centre is to serve the currently disparate and in some cases unrealised yoga community across Chepstow and the Wye Valley and to bring it together through a dedicated yoga space that is inviting, inclusive, welcoming to all, and located in the heart of Chepstow. The Chepstow Yoga Centre will be fully accepted and embedded in the life of the town, and will enrich the lives of those around it.

The target audience of the Yoga Centre is two-tiered: on the user level it will serve local people who are interested in practising yoga, and on the provider level it will serve local yoga teachers who are trying to develop their independent businesses in the area. It is envisaged that working in this way and engaging both students and their teachers, the Centre will be fully accepted and develop into a true, sustainable, collaborative community with shared interests and a positive impact on the surrounding environment and economy.

Funding is required to support the initial, pilot phase of the Chepstow Yoga Centre until it can become financially stable and secure steady income. It is predicted that this phase of the project will take two years, during which time funding will ensure that the Centre is able to make a positive impact on the local community and break-even. Beyond the funding

period, the innovative, community driven approach will ensure that the project is sustainable in the long-term.

In today’s busy world people seldom take the time to nurture themselves. A regular yoga practice allows this time, allows this space, allows this sanctuary. The Yoga Centre will create a special place where people can remove their armour and explore what lies within. In doing so it will make a positive impact on the health and wellbeing, both physical and emotional, of all those who make use of it; it will tackle social exclusion and be a welcome place for people of all different backgrounds, no matter what age, size, gender, race or ethnicity; it will support existing teachers to develop their businesses and encourage new teachers to train. It will change Chepstow for the better.

2b Please describe the objectives, benefits and priorities of your project

The objectives of the Chepstow Yoga Centre Pilot Project are as follows:

To create a beautiful, fit-for-purpose yoga space for people to come and practise yoga in a safe, comfortable, inclusive and inspiring place

To share the gift of yoga with people, helping them to develop a better connection with themselves, and eventually the world around them

To bring together, strengthen and grow the yoga community in Chepstow and the Wye Valley

These objectives reflect the benefits of yoga which are huge, varied and profound. Regular practice is life enhancing in whatever form it takes - whether it is mindfulness exercises for children, vinyasa flow for those in need of more physical practice, seated yoga for people with mobility issues, or meditation for those suffering from depression or anxiety. It changes lives, builds confidence, and gives people the tools to live more fully, more freely.

The Yoga Centre will offer a space where people of all ages, ethnicities, abilities, shapes and sizes are able to come and practice whatever their requirements. It will be a place that all local yoga teachers can utilise, bringing together individual teaching styles and different skills sets that would appeal to a wide range of students. To support the objectives, the priorities of the Chepstow Yoga Centre Pilot Project are as follows:

Making yoga more accessible to all, therefore having a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of the local community

Acting as a community hub and social space for the development of a yoga community in Chepstow, combating issues of social isolation and loneliness

Working with local teachers to offer a wide range of classes, so that the Centre can offer students the choice to find the style of yoga and teacher most suitable for them - a varied timetable of classes reflecting the varied needs of clientele.

Supporting local teachers to develop their individual businesses, providing a central space where they can share and exchange knowledge with other teachers and benefit from branding and marketing synergies

There is clear crossover between the Chepstow Yoga Centre Pilot Project’s objectives and priorities and the five key themes of the Vale of Usk’s Local Development Strategy. The Project will add value to local identity by creating a strong community, it will facilitate business partnerships through engaging independent teachers, it will explore new ways of providing non-statutory local services by creating a community hub, it will encourage sustainable thinking as people become more conscious of their impact on the environment through yoga, and it will explore digital technologies by using them in marketing. With

community at its heart, however, the Project primarily explores new ways of providing non-statutory local services.

2c How does the project meet the requirements of the Local Development Strategy and what evidence do you have of the need for it? (please list sources, where possible and refer to the Logic Intervention Table)

As identified in Section 2b, this project supports a number of Themes in the Local Development Strategy, but it is most closely aligned to Theme 3, exploring new ways of providing non-statutory local services, the aim of which is to “work with rural communities to enable and facilitate a self-help rural coaching network, to identify and address future needs thereby providing an opportunity to explore new ways of providing non-statutory local services”.

It will contribute towards this aim in the following ways: It will support a centralised community facility and service, it will create a social space to tackle rural isolation, it will offer community classes to tackle rural poverty, it will support local networks of students and teachers, it will be located centrally in Chepstow so that it is accessible to as many as possible

via public transport, it will support the local community through digital technology and the use of social

media it will provide a much needed community hub for yoga in Chepstow.

Demand for Yoga in the Chepstow area is high. There are in excess of ten teachers offering regular classes in and around the area at the moment and regular classes are also offered in the numerous leisure centres and gyms in Chepstow. Anecdotal evidence from these teachers indicated that demand for classes is growing, in some cases leading to oversubscription, and this is despite being in a space not conducive to yoga practice.

The following table provides a list (non-exhaustive) of current yoga teachers in Chepstow:

Name Yoga Style Website/Email Lorna Kennedy Vinyasa www.lornayoga.comKari Van Eden Dru www.karivaneden.comSian Rule Hatha www.sianrule.comSarah Jones, Trish Maddalena, Sam Williams

Pregnancy https://www.lushtums.co.uk/monmouthshire/

Kishe Redwood Iyengar www.wildwoodyoga.co.ukBronwen Wilson Pregnancy / Mother & Baby N/AAli Rose Hatha https://yogawithalirose.co.uk/Sue Chudley Viniyoga http://www.millersfarm.co.uk/yogaspaceChristine Cox Vinyasa N/ALisa Waters Chair / Hatha N/ALisa Davies Hatha N/A

The idea of the Yoga Centre would be to work with these teachers and bring them together, so rather than categorising them as competition, they would actually be the target audience - key stakeholders and potential partners.

The Project idea has been welcomed by all local teachers who were asked as part of the Project’s market research, and support has been corroborated by the local community.

Evidence of market research undertaken is outlined in Section 2d.

2d What feasibility/survey and planning work have you undertaken with regard to the proposed project? Please indicate if these are part of the proposed project.

As part of the development of the project idea, several market research activities have been undertaken to investigate the feasibility of the project.

On 8th March Lorna Kennedy emailed all students in her mailing list outlining the idea of creating a yoga studio. In total 16 responses were received, all of which were positive. The same message was posted on Facebook on 8th March and received an additional 27 likes and 9 comments.

On 4th June 2018 an email was sent to all yoga teachers listed above informing them of the plans for the development of a Yoga Centre. Positive and supportive responses were received from all, reinforcing the idea that the project would be a success.

On 11th June 2018 posts were made on social media to local community groups, requesting support for finding premises. The response was overwhelming with many respondents not only offering help and advice, but also suggesting that they would support the establishment of the Centre.

Some of the most powerful messages came from those who not only supported the idea, but who would also directly develop and grow from the establishment of the community project. Their support and their encouragement is testament to the strength of the idea of a community yoga centre, and evidence of its need.

“This is amazing!! I love it. & it’s weird as I’d love at some point to train to teach yoga (even if I never did teach ) plus I’d love to help run a cafe when I could ( with vegan options of course) I’ll definitely be helping you manifest this”

“Yes yes yes! I am very interested so count me in. I will be looking to set myself up around October time, which is when I qualify, so I will try and set up my own class then, and put my name down for cover. I’m not sure what timescale you have in mind, but at whichever point things start to happen, I would love to be involved.”

A collection of excerpts from the market research can be found in Appendix 1.

These activities, in addition to the many successful yoga classes currently running in the area, demonstrate that if this project is approved it is highly likely to be supported, sustained and indeed welcomed by the local economy and community.

In addition to this market research, some fieldwork has been done to investigate suitable properties in which to locate the Yoga Centre. Five town centre locations have been viewed and assessed based on the following criteria:

Location: ease of access; safety at night; car parking available (either on site or nearby)

Physical space: size; shape; flooring; lighting; likelihood to be approved for change of use

Environment: natural light; surrounding noise; temperature (heating or air conditioning); access to outside space

Amenities: space for changing facilities and washrooms; space for a small reception area

Costs: rent; business rates; overheads (including utilities)

Following an extensive search a suitable property has been identified in a small office complex, Stuart House, located by the River Wye at an agreed rent of £[XXXXXXXX] per annum. Figure 1 below illustrates the dimensions of the space and how it could be used as a yoga space (further illustrations of the use of space can be found in Appendix 2).

Figure 1: Internal view of Stuart House converted to a yoga space

2e Does this project have links to other projects and initiatives? (please list and explain)

The Project would link with other local yoga teachers and in doing so would create its own network within Chepstow. The yoga teachers forming the network would bring their own skills, expertise, and, in some cases, links to existing projects. For example, one of the local teachers has links to the local library, another has links with the community hospital, while another has links to the National Childbirth Trust.

The simplicity of the Project model allows each teacher to continue to operate in their own way, using their own initiatives and project links, and bringing this together through the practice of yoga. In allowing the teachers continue working in this way the Project naturally creates a diverse, inclusive and wide ranging network that spans many project and initiatives.

2f Describe how the project is innovative (see guidance for definition) and has a similar project been successfully undertaken in any other area (details, if possible)?

Chepstow currently sustains in excess of 10 yoga teachers who run regular classes in and around the area. Current provision is often within village halls, gyms and schools, which are often cheap to rent but outdated, cold, noisy, unclean and generally not suitable for teachers or their students to become fully immersed in a beautiful yoga practice. This project will be the first of its kind in the area and in this regard it is innovative within Chepstow within the Vale of Usk.

Yoga studios have been developed up and down the country in many cities and towns. They are known to have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing offerings in the communities in which they are created, and the most successful have developed small communities of their own. A relatively local case in point would be the development Cheltenham Pilates and Yoga Centre which has, over the last 10 years, grown from strength to strength. Such is the demand and the growth of the community that it has created, that it has now opened its second studio dedicated to Pilates and Yoga in the same location.

The difference in this project proposal is that the driver is primarily to create a community, rather than a business. It is hoped that this approach will enhance local support for the project and therefore reinforce its success.

2g Are any of the Welsh Government strategies listed in the guidance notes covered by your project (please list)

Future Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 Building Resilient Communities: Tackling Poverty Action Plan – Welsh Government

2h Does you project consider the following cross-cutting themes and economic benefits?Link for information on Cross-Cutting Themes Download Key Document.

(delete) Explain howEqual opportunities and Gender Mainstreaming

YES The project is all about creating a welcoming, inclusive and inspiring community. Anyone who makes use of the Chepstow Yoga Centre will be treated equally.

Make provision for the use of the Welsh Language

YES Where appropriate marketing materials and policies will be produced in English and in Welsh.

Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion

YES A central location, diverse timetable and regular ‘community classes’ offered on a donation-only basis will help make yoga more accessible to those who are unable to travel to classes for practical or financial reasons. It will also be a way of encouraging more people to try yoga and reaching out to those who are not already students.

By acting as a community hub the Centre will also serve as a social space for the development of a community, combating issues of social isolation and

loneliness.

Sustainable Development

YES Through encouraging and enabling the practice of yoga, the project will contribute to the long-term health and wellbeing of local residents who participate in classes.

Children’s rights Impact Assessment

YES / NO NEED ADVICE ON THIS FROM DESERIE

Will your local economy benefit from the project?

YES Local teachers will be supported to develop and grow their own businesses. Having a designated Yoga Centre in a town-centre location will help to achieve this as classes would benefit from centralised marketing, word-of-mouth marketing and footfall. They will have a purpose-built space for teaching yoga (clean, quiet, peaceful, temperate) with a range of facilities available on-site (bolsters, blocks, mats), without the difficulties of provision in makeshift premises.

The Centre will also allow teachers easy access to the network of yoga teachers across Chepstow and therefore present opportunities for upskilling, exchanging knowledge and sharing best practice. The Centre could also attract guest teachers to provide specialist workshops for practitioners and/or teachers to enable teachers to meet their continuing professional development requirements.

With community at its heart, any income generated by the project will be re-invested into the project to the benefit of all users and the local community.

2i Please give details and supply evidence of all other sources of funding secured or being sought for the project.

Is this project dependent upon finding additional funding? NO

Source of funding Amount Date of decision

Section 3: Delivering & managing your project

3a What do you hope to achieve with this project and explain when you think the key steps will be achieved?

The aim of the Pilot Project is to ascertain whether a community Yoga Centre is a viable social enterprise in Chepstow. Eventually, this social enterprise will serve the yoga community across Chepstow and the Wye Valley and to bring it together through a

dedicated yoga space that is inviting, inclusive, welcoming to all, and located in the heart of Chepstow.

To be viable, the project needs to reach a point where it consistently generates enough revenue to sustain itself. Revenue would be generated through hire of the facilities by individual teachers. The individual teachers would then be responsible for the pricing of their classes but could be offered guide prices by the Yoga Centre. Based on a rental of £7.50 per half hour, the Centre would need to provide three 1.5 hour classes per day over five days to generate a revenue of £1350 per month.

Fortnightly ‘Community classes’ with a suggested donation of £5 and offered by the Centre could also act as another revenue stream. If each class were to collect donations to the value of £50 then this would equate to another £100 per month.

All revenue generated would go towards covering the costs of the facilities and staff, and any profits would be fed-back into the Centre to support its role in the community.

The timeline below outlines the key milestones in achieving the project aims.

Date Key MilestonesJune 2018 - Conduct feasibility studies and undertake initial research.

- Identify suitable premises.- Apply for LEADER Funding

August 2018 - Receive approval for LEADER funding- Formalise rental agreement- Begin fitting-out the Centre - Apply for planning permission for change of use (from office to

leisure facility)

September 2018 - Start offering a small selection of classes to existing students- Work with local yoga teachers to develop a timetable of

classes

October 2018 - Official launch event- Start operating with at least 6 different teachers on board- Begin programme of monthly fortnightly community classes to

raise awareness for the project and engage more local people

February 2019 - Six-month review of Project progress- Refine processes and procedures – timetabling, class

booking, payments, website, social media- Engage more local teachers and expand timetable

May 2019 - Reach target use of space – 4.5 hours per day over five days- Begin to invite guest teacher to deliver specialist workshops

August 2019 - Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Chepstow Yoga Centre- Refine processes and procedures - timetabling, class booking,

payments, website, social media

October 2019 - 1st anniversary celebration

February 2020 - 18-month review of Project progress- Forward planning – the future of Chepstow Yoga Centre

August 2020 - AGM- Review Chepstow Yoga Centre Pilot Project- End of Funding

3b What risks have you identified that might affect your project?

As with any Project, there are risks involved at each stage with varying degrees of likelihood and severity. The table below provides a brief risk assessment and outlines some of the key risks associated with the Project. Scores are given to each identified risk according to their impact and likelihood of occurrence.

Risk Description Impact (score of 1 to 5, with 5 indicating the greatest impact)

Likelihood (score of 1 to 5, with 5 indicating the most likely)

Risk Score (maximum score 25, indicating greatest risk)

Lack of engagement from teachers

The Centre is created but not enough teachers are engaged in the process and would prefer to teach in the existing locations of their yoga classes

4 3 12

Lack of engagement from students

The Centre is created but students do not want to travel there and would prefer to practice in the existing locations of their yoga classes

4 3 12

Property risk Damage to property, unexpected bills or maintenance costs, force majeure

4 1 4

Physical space Risk of space not being fit-for-purpose, leaving items and equipment which cause clutter and potential hazards for students. Slips, trips and falls.

2 4 8

Use of property and equipment

Electric shock, burns, risk of fire resulting in entrapment, burns, smoke inhalation, loss or damage

5 1 5

Physical activity related to yoga

Risk of injury 5 2 10

If successfully awarded Project funding, a full risk assessment would be undertaken.

3c How do you intend to deal with these risks? (support may be available if you require it)

The table provided in section 3b has been developed to incorporate risk mitigation activities, and these are outlined below.

Risk Risk Score (maximum score 25, indicating

Risk mitigation activities

greatest risk)Lack of engagement from teachers

12 Teachers are involved in the project from inception and are consulted throughout the development of the Project.

Lack of engagement from students

12 Students are involved in the project from inception and are welcomed to give feedback and share their vision for a yoga studio.

Property risk 4 Appropriate insurance would be secured for the building.

Physical space 8 The Centre undertakes weekly cleaning of all facilities, taking all reasonable steps to ensure a safe and secure physical environment. Teachers are informed of process for reporting any defective equipment.

Use of property and equipment

5 The Centre creates a health and safety policy. Every teacher is informed of the procedures in event of discovering a fire or in event of a fire alarm. Where possible appliances should be turned off at the end of the session.

Physical activity related to yoga

10 Teachers working from the Centre are required to show proof of public liability insurance. The Centre ensures that teachers ask students to complete a health questionnaire on enrolment and addresses any personal issues with individual students. Each teacher asks if there are any injuries before the start of each class.

If successfully awarded Project funding, a full risk assessment would be undertaken.

3d Please submit a copy of your Group’s constitution and explain what experience members of the group might have that will be of benefit to the project.

Section 4: Long term impact of your project

4a What do you expect to be the next steps for this project, and how will the project be sustained following this funding? (We may be able to help you find capital funding)

Following the two-year pilot project it is intended that the Chepstow Yoga Centre continue as a social enterprise, continuing to generate income through the rental of the yoga space to local teachers, to the benefit of the community. This is a long-term project with a long-term goal to become fully embedded in the life of the town, but it requires financial support

to test its viability.

The support of the funding throughout this pilot period will enable the Project to find a secure footing and to ensure that this is a strong and stable foundation for the future of the Chepstow Yoga Centre.

The continuation of the Project may take one of many forms. On the most basic level, if the Project proves successful and financially stable, a longer lease may be sought on the existing premises. If the Project requires growth, there may be the potential to find a new lease on a larger property, or to purchase a studio space for the continuation of the Chepstow Yoga Centre.

4b How will you raise awareness of your project to your community and maintain the community interest in the future (if applicable)?

By working with students and local teachers from the very beginning, awareness of the project is already growing through word of mouth.

In order to launch the project successfully, a marketing budget will be designated to allow for the development of a logo, website, marketing materials and a launch event. A dedicated website and associated social media accounts will be developed to maintain interest among the community. Throughout the project marketing budgets will be used to offer promotional classes or workshops – aimed not only at raising awareness but also ensuring that the Centre is delivering its promise to be inclusive and accessible to all.

If successful in receiving funding, a full marketing plan will be developed for the launch of the project and for its duration.

Section 5: Financial information

5.1 Project Costs (This section will be completed jointly with the project officer)

Cost breakdown How is this cost calculated. (Please indicate where the cost is estimated. If you are able to reclaim the VAT paid please add costs without VAT

£

Room Hire

Consultancy

Marketing & PR

Procured Services

Purchased items <£10,000

Other Costs (please list)

Total Project Cost (Do NOT include VAT if you are VAT registered). Please include your Match Funding total in this section 0

Match Funding Must be a minimum of 20% of the total project cost. (Refer to Appendix 1)

Type Provide details of your sources of match funding below

£

Cash Contributions

In-kind funding you will provide

Total match funding

LEADER Funding Must be a maximum of 80% of the total project cost.

Funding Required % of total project cost(Maximum 80%)

5.2 Profile of Expenditure (This section will be completed jointly with the project officer)

Type of expenditure First Qtr. Second Qtr.

Third Qtr. Fourth Qtr. Total

6 What will this project achieve in summary, these are called indicators.

6a Indicator:- LD-CL.006. Number of information dissemination actions/promotional and/ or marketing activities to raise awareness of the LDS and/ or its projects.Definition:- The number of actions undertaken by the Local Action Group to raise awareness and explain the aim, objectives and activities undertaken via the Local Development Strategy to the rural population. The number of planned and targeted activities undertaken by the Local Action Group that promote the Local Development Strategy and its projects OR the production and distribution of materials aimed at marketing and promoting the Local Development Strategy and its projects.

Quantity 44 Brief details

42 fortnightly community classes over a period of 21 months (1st

October 2018 – 1st August 2020); one launch event (October 2018); one anniversary event (October 2019)

6b Indicator:- LD-CL.008. Number of participants supported.Definition:- Participants: number of people who attend an event to disseminate information, etc. Please note that the number on receipt of any kind of mail-shot associated with the dissemination of information (e.g. the distribution of a report summary) cannot be counted as participants.

Quantity 8920 Brief details

420 participants in fortnightly community classes over 21 months (based on 10 students per class); 50 participants in the launch event; 50 participants in the anniversary event; 8,400 participants

in classes once operating at full capacity over a period of 14 months (based on 15 classes per week with average 10 students per class from 1st May 2019 – 1st August 2020). Note these figures do not account for individual participants reached, purely the number of participants engaged in classes and events throughout the project duration.

6c Indicator:- LD-Cl.001. Number of Feasibility StudiesDefinition:- Number of specific feasibility studies commissioned or undertaken through the programme to provide the background research for a specific problem or issue and the production of a comprehensive written appraisal of the issues, the alternative solutions, the financial costings, a detailed risk analysis and recommendations for the next steps. (refer to LEADER guidance Version 1 Sept 2015 paragraph 31). Available as a download from the web site

Quantity 2 Brief details

1 six-month review of the Project; 1 18-month review of the Project

6d Indicator:- LD-CL.004. Number of pilot activities undertaken/ supported.Definition:- Number of pilot activities undertaken/ supported through the capacity building activities, broken down as defined in characteristics breakdown.Characteristics:- New approaches, new products, new processes, new services

Quantity

1 Brief details

The entire Project is intended to be a pilot for the future establishment of a Yoga Centre in Chepstow

6e Indicator:- LD-CL.007. Number of stakeholders engaged.

Definition:-

Stakeholder: Any group or individual who can affect or is affected by the achievement of the project objectives. These can be people, groups or entities that have a role and interest in the objectives and implementation of a project. They include the community whose situation the project or programme seeks to change.

Engagement: Stakeholders who become actively involved in the project’s implementation at any stage.

Quantity 10 stakeholder groups

Brief details

The Chepstow Yoga Centre Pilot Project is ambitious and wide-reaching in its approach. It is intended to become fully embedded into the local community and therefore will engage a huge number of different stakeholders. For this reason, stakeholders have been defined into the following groups which are used to calculate the number of different stakeholders reached:

All local yoga teachers in Chepstow (currently 13) All yoga students in Chepstow Local residents of Chepstow Local businesses Community groups Landlord

Monmouthshire County Council Chepstow Town Council LAG Link projects and initiatives (including libraries,

schools, community hospitals, NCT groups)

6f Indicator:- LD-CL.005. Community hubs.

Definition:- The number of new community hubs that were formed as a direct result of this project.

Quantity 1 Brief details

The essence of the Chepstow Yoga Centre Pilot Project is to create a community hub around the practice of yoga.

6g Indicator:- LD-CL.002. Number of networks established.

Definition:- Number of formal networks that have been created as a direct result of this project and were not in existence prior to programme involvement. (Each network can be scored only once over the life of the approved LEADER programme)

Quantity 2 Brief details

The networks that will be established formally through the Project reflect the target audiences of the Project (outlined in Section 2a). The Project will create one formal network for local yoga teachers and one formal network for local yoga students.

6h Indicator:- LD-CL.003. Number of jobs safeguarded through supported projects.

Definition:- Jobs safeguarded are where jobs are known to be at risk over the next 12 months. Jobs should be scored as FTE and permanent (a seasonal job may be scored provided the job is expected to recur indefinitely; the proportion of the year worked should also be recorded). The job itself should be scored, not an estimate of how many people may occupy the job. If the job is not fulltime then the hours per week will need to be divided by 30 to find the proportion of FTE represents (e.g. 18 hours per week would be 0.6 FTE).

Quantity 0 Brief details

The Project will create opportunities for jobs and the expansion of individual businesses, rather than safeguarding existing jobs.

6i Indicator:- R.24. Jobs created through this LEADER project

Definition:- Total number of jobs created in FTE through support for implementation of operations under the LDS funded through the RDP under LEADER.

Quantity 13 Brief details

It is estimated that the Project will enable local teachers to expand delivery of their classes and therefore create more secure self-employment. The aim is that all local teachers will be involved and therefore 13 teaching positions will be created and secured. There is, however, potential that the Project will inspire more yoga teachers to train and to therefore the number of jobs created may actually be higher.

7 The Rules and Regulations

7.1 Statutory requirements and permissions

Do you require: Yes(Please tick)

No(Please tick)

Attached (Please tick)

Landlord, landowner or lease holder consent X

Planning permission X

Building regulations X

Licences X

Specific permission for continued general public access

X

Any other statutory permission e.g. Natural Resources Wales consent etc.

If yes please state:

X

If yes to any of the above, please provide copies of the approval documentation with this application. If “no” where appropriate please provide written confirmation from the relevant authority that permission is not needed.

7.2 Data Protection and Publicity

The information provided on this application will be used in connection with the processing of the projects application and publicising, administration, evaluation and monitoring of the LEADER programme. To progress this application we may disclose the information we receive from you to others including public bodies and other Government Departments. To publicise, administer, monitor and evaluate the programme we may also disclose information to other Groups or consultants which we consider appropriate. The project description and details, if approved, may be used in various forms of publicity for the Vale of Usk LEADER programme, including being placed on the Vale of Usk web site. We will not however disclose personal details submitted as part of this application.

7.3 Signed and confirmed on behalf of the applicant.

I declare that to the best of my knowledge the factual information contained in this form is correct and complete. I understand that if I have given information that is incorrect or incomplete, the offer of any LEADER funding may be withheld and action taken against me or my Group. I also declare, unless otherwise stated in this application form, that I/the Group has not started activity or committed expenditure that relates to this project. If any information changes I will inform the Vale of Usk LAG project immediately.

Signed:

Name:

Position:

Date:

Check list:

Have you attached a copy of the group’s constitution (if applicable)

Do you need support or training for project delivery?

Do you need support finding additional funding?

PLEASE RETURN TO: rdpinfo@monmouthshire.gov.uk or to the relevant officer

Appendix 1. Additional Guidance for In Kind Match Funding (Link to Welsh Government LEADER Guidance), more detail is provided in the Application Guidance form.

Contributions in kind in the form of:-

Provision of works, goods, services, land and real estate for which no cash payment has been made (must comply with ESI rules – see Leader Guidance)

Equipment and Raw Materials may be provided to a project as a form of in kind match funding but the LAG must ensure that evidence is maintained about the value of the amount committed.

Research or other professional work may be provided as a form of in kind match funding but the LAG must ensure evidence is maintained (see Leader Guidance)

Unpaid Voluntary work – Only persons acting in a wholly voluntary capacity will be eligible, signed time sheets should be maintained to support the hours claimed towards the project. Below are a list of rates provided by Welsh Government which can be applied as acceptable rates for voluntary work:

Job Title SOC Code* Hourly Rate £ Annual Rate £

Project Manager 2424 21.72 42,756

Project Researcher 2426 16.55 31,880

Project Coordinator 3539 14.94 28,944

Trainer 3563 14.26 27,775

Project Administrator 4159 10.13 19,812

* Standard Occupational Classification

Appendix 1: Market Research

Appendix 1.1: Student Responses

On 8th March Lorna Kennedy contacted all students in her mailing list outlining the idea of creating a yoga studio. In total 16 responses were received by email and a further 27 likes and 9 comments through Facebook, all of which were positive. The following are anonymised excerpts from the responses received:

“Wow what a great dream! Am totally behind you. I think it is something the area really needs”

“This is exciting news and I'm happy to support as I am able”

“What a fantastic idea Lorna! Yes you should definitely go ahead with this”

“First off, this is so weird. I had a dream about a yoga studio and how we need one locally and was on the point of contacting you to talk about it. Synchronicity.”

“This is incredibly exciting and will put my thinking cap on.  A studio is exactly what we need!”

“How exciting.  Chepstow would be a better place with a yoga studio.”

“This is amazing!! I love it. & it’s weird as I’d love at some point to train to teach yoga (even if I never did teach ) plus I’d love to help run a cafe when I could ( with vegan options of course) I’ll definitely be helping you manifest this”

“Love love love love love 💕 I’ve thought for years that your aura needs a bigger space than St Arvans Hall can contain!”

“Great dream. Mine has fizzled out due to lack of funds. Offering any other help in the process or as potential hirer, post occupancy. Go for it and good luck!”

Appendix 1.2: Teacher Responses

On 4th June 2018 an email was sent to all local teachers in Chepstow informing them of a potential Yoga Centre. All teachers responded to the email, all of which supported the idea and offered to support the Project. The following are anonymised excerpts from responses received.

“I am interested in a lovely space to teach. Thank you for emailing. Since you mention different styles, currently I'm exploring a scaravelli approach to yoga which is very exciting! Good luck with the meeting”

“I absolutely love your idea of a yoga studio and will support it as much as I can. […] I would like to have a least one class a week initially. […] The kind of class I would like to teach is something like I taught from home.   I guess you could describe it as Hatha yoga with some vinyasa and a strong focus on anatomy. […] I would in time also be keen on a chair based class for those who are less able.”

“Thanks for including me in the email. It's funny timing for me - as I've spent the last 6 months (having moved to Chepstow) of wanting to do exactly the same thing.  […] I'm very excited about your vision, love the idea, and would be delighted to be involved in the project. […] Look forward to keeping in touch about this idea, which feels like a fruit ready to ripen!”

“My dream too!! But I believe you would be far better equipped and able to make it happen. So I am 100% behind you”

“Yes yes yes! I am very interested so count me in. I will be looking to set myself up around October time, which is when I qualify, so I will try and set up my own class then, and put my name down for cover. I’m not sure what timescale you have in mind, but at whichever point things start to happen, I would love to be involved.”

“I would definitely be interested and can offer Yoga for Pregnancy and Mother and Baby Yoga. I'm hoping to do more training next year so I can offer Womankind or Womb Yoga, possibly as a monthly workshop. As I run my perinatal classes through the NCT I can offer discounted places for those on a low income - so that would fit with your community yoga idea. I currently have some women doing the classes for as little as a pound as NCT will fund the difference. I normally pay about £10 per hour for my current venues which NCT is happy with. Both classes are an hour and a half.” 

Appendix 1.3: Public Responses

On 11th June a message was posted on the ‘Sedbury, Beachely & Tutshill Community Group’ and ‘Chepstow Community Page’ Facebook pages looking for recommendations for a suitable space for a yoga studio. 15 comments were received from the Sedbury, Beachley & Tutshill Community Group page and 35 on the Chepstow Community Page. The following are anonymised excerpts from responses received.

“Keep us posted as well, definitely need more yoga in Chepstow!”

“Yes Def interested when this is up and running !”

“My Mum is desperate to start up yoga but there's never any classes around her work hours.”

“Great to hear there may soon be a yoga studio, looking to restart but not finding many suitably timed classes in Chepstow. Keep us posted on progress !! ”

Appendix 2: Stuart House, internal plans for a yoga space

Appendix 2.1: Floorplan

Appendix 2.2: Internal View

Appendix 2.3: Internal view 2

Appendix 2.4: Internal view 3