THE community group behind the ambitious Otley Common project are hosting a festive pop-up event this weekend to raise awareness and showcase their plans to transform Otley Methodist Church into a vibrant cultural, entrepreneurial, and social space for the community to meet, work and play.

The pop up is taking place on Saturday, November 30 from 3pm - 6pm, at Otley Methodist Church.

The group united, with a shared concern over the ongoing loss of community assets within the area, notably witnessing the decline of Otley Civic Centre which has fallen into such a state of decline it is now on the National Heritage ‘at risk’ register.

Otley Common will be run for the community by the community with spaces for:

• Community groups and classes

• Live music and comedy

• Theatre with rehearsal space

• Studio space for artists and small businesses

• Co-working facilities

• A dedicated youth area

• Private and professional functions

• Community café for all

Alongside opportunities to meet the team and hear more about their plans for Otley Common, the pop up will feature:

• Building tours led by project architect Stefanie Stead from Otley based firm Stead & Co

• Musical performances by local artists Farm Choir, Toby Rollinson and more

• Local makers market featuring Jeanne-Louise Art, Mags Elliot Art & Illustration, Print & Hues, Evelyn Friend and Idle Valley Wood Craft.

• Christmas crafts for the kids

• Tea, coffee and cake hosted by Otley WI

After securing a £300,000 grant from the government’s Community Ownership Fund, the group have been working tirelessly to raise the additional funds to purchase and renovate the building, through a Community Share Offer by Tuesday, December 31st.

The Community Share Offer, gives the community the opportunity to invest in an Otley based project, run by the community for the community. In return, investors will become members of Friends of the Wesley Otley Limited (FOTWOL), the Community Benefit Society (CBS) that has been set up to run Otley Common.

All members will get to vote on decisions around how the society is run, regardless of how much they have invested. Investors will also get the option to receive interest on their investment as Otley Common becomes commercially successful.

Otley Common is currently targeting 6.25 percent from four years after opening. At the time of writing this, 181 supporters have so far invested £128,870.

Visit Otley Methodist Church – Saturday, November 30th with entry between 3pm and 6pm. No need to book a ticket – simply pop in.

To find out more and support this venture visit https://www.otleycommon.org/