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Following in the footsteps of sadly discontinued The Bolster, its aim is to serve the community with updates from around the parish.
If you'd like to contribute any local news or announcements (be that a sports club, community group, or personal story), please get in touch.
At some point in the future we hope to create a printed version of the news for those not online but this will depend on the success of the online version.
The following is an email newsletter from the St Agnes Miners & Mechanics’ Institute. Sign up to the MMI newsletter here
Good morning!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for such a wonderful Christmassy weekend at the MMI. Mingle and Jingle was full of warmth and laughter, and the Many Men Sound System brought so much joy to the building. It was lovely to see the rooms alive with conversation, community, and music.
We wanted to share an update on where we are with our Save the MMI campaign, and to say how grateful we are for all the incredible support so far.
Where things stand today
• 101 Legends, 4 Total Legends and 3 Corporate Legends supporting us each month
• £1,500 in regular monthly donations
• One-off donations totalling £2,482
• £35,000 received in grants (including £20,000 from the National Lottery and £15,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation)
Your support is helping us cover our essential running costs, which have risen significantly over the past three years. Energy and utility prices have increased across the board, meaning our electricity bills are now £17,000 higher per year than in 2022/23, and water costs have risen by £3,252 per year.
As a beautiful but very old building, the MMI is naturally more expensive to heat, insure and maintain. While the building is well loved and well used, there are ongoing costs that come with caring for a space that has served the village for more than a century.
We continue to apply for grants, although these have become far more competitive as many charities and community organisations are facing similar pressures. This means we cannot rely on grants alone, which is why local community support is so important.
Behind the scenes, our team has been connecting with funders, submitting applications, reviewing operating costs and building a longer term strategic plan, assisted by Access to Finance Plus, to help the MMI thrive for years to come. We will share more about this in the new year.
Ways to support the Save the MMI campaign
• Become a Legend: a small monthly donation that helps us keep the lights on and the doors open
• Become a Corporate Legend: perfect for local businesses wanting to support the MMI and offer perks to their teams
• Make a one off donation: every contribution, large or small, makes a real difference
• Volunteer: we always welcome help with events, stewarding or general support
Find out more and support here>
For anyone who would like to hear more about what is happening behind the scenes, our AGM will take place on Thursday 29th January at 6pm. Everyone is welcome.
And if you missed it, do take a moment to watch the MMI mini-documentary created by our very own Ben Jackson. It captures the past, present and future of the building so beautifully.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas, and thank you again. Your support, presence and enthusiasm keep the MMI alive.
Warmest wishes,
Hilary and The MMI Team