About the project

Bentinck Miners Welfare Club in Kirkby-in-Ashfield has been at the heart of its community for generations, providing a space for social events, entertainment, sport and family activities. But after years without significant investment, the building had become tired and underused, and the club was struggling to attract new users and generate the income needed to remain sustainable.

Across two phases of work – two weeks in January and three weeks in May – VIY worked with local partners and the Bentinck team to transform the space, giving the club a new lease of life.

Phase one was funded by Ashfield District Council through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), with phase two funded by the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner alongside other local partners. The Bentinck also contributed towards the works.

The project

• Completely transforming the tired bar into a vibrant, modern sports bar with striking new wall panelling, fresh paintwork and contemporary finishes
• Bringing an underused room back to life with new dartboards, creating a flexible space for community activities, events and private hire
• Building an impressive raised timber music stage, complete with a roof, decking and clad walls – creating a brand-new space for live music and events
• Restoring the outdoor play area, repairing and upgrading damaged timber so it could safely reopen for local families
• Giving old benches a new lease of life by repurposing them into additional outdoor seating
• Completely revamping the dated lounge, with new tongue-and-groove panelling, bespoke bar worktops, new flooring and a bold, fresh colour scheme
• Improving the toilets with energy-efficient LED lighting, helping reduce energy consumption and running costs while supporting the Bentinck’s long-term sustainability

The impact

The transformation has had a huge impact on the Bentinck and the wider community. The club was struggling to attract new users before the project, with many of its spaces tired, underused and no longer reflecting the needs of the community.

The improvements have helped create a more welcoming, modern and versatile venue, capable of hosting everything from family activities and community events to live music and festivals.

The impact was clear during the club’s 100-year celebrations, when almost 1,000 people attended and the Bentinck experienced record sales.

Most importantly, the project is helping bring a new generation into the club. Young people who took part in the VIY project have since returned with their friends, bringing new users into the space and helping the Bentinck become a focal point for the wider community once again.

The young people

64 NEET and at risk young people took part across the two phases of the project, gaining hands-on experience and working towards recognised qualifications.

Young people were referred through a range of local partners, including Ashfield School, Vision West Nottinghamshire College, Inspire Academy, Outwood Academy Kirkby, Mansfield Jobcentre Plus, Sutton-in-Ashfield Youth Justice Service and Nottinghamshire Youth Justice Service.

• 61 young people achieved a City & Guilds Level 3 accreditation in one or more areas: Carpentry, Health & Safety, Painting & Decorating or Conduct at Work.

“Completing the build of the stage was an awesome experience, it looks amazing! We got to help cut the wood for it, stain the wood and do other tasks as well which was all a new experience for me.”

“I have enjoyed the project as it has shown me new skills and opened up possible job ideas for my future.”

For some, the impact has gone beyond the project itself – they’ve come back to use the Bentinck with their friends, showing how the transformation is helping create a community space for the next generation as well as its longstanding members.