What does this community space/venue do?
The Bentinck Miners Welfare in Kirkby-in-Ashfield is a long-standing community hub and registered charity, originally established to serve local mining families. Today it provides a wide range of social, leisure, and recreational opportunities for the community, including live entertainment, bingo and pool nights, children’s play areas, sports facilities, and function rooms for events. With its family-friendly atmosphere and mix of activities, it plays a vital role in keeping local people connected, offering a welcoming space for all ages to meet, take part in events, and celebrate the area’s mining heritage.
What is VIY doing?
VIY will be delivering a large-scale outdoor project, constructing a raised timber music stage complete with a roof, decked flooring, and cladded back and side walls. As part of the works, existing benches will be repurposed into new seating, and damaged wooden play equipment will be repaired and upgraded. These improvements will allow the play area—currently closed due to safety concerns from broken and loose timber—to be safely reopened for children. All timber play equipment will also be repainted to give it a fresh, revitalised finish.
Inside, the lounge area at the Bentinck is dated, with 1980s-style floral carpeting, old décor, and worn wallpaper and bar fittings. VIY will fully transform this space by installing tongue-and-groove panelling, new bar worktops, and a refreshed colour scheme to create a modern, updated look. New flooring will also be installed to complete the renovation.
In the final week, if time allows, work will extend to the toilets, which are similarly outdated and in poor decorative condition. These will be upgraded to align with the modern, refreshed style introduced throughout the rest of the Bentinck.
What will be the impact of our project?
What does this community space/venue do?
Stacey Road is a supported accommodation setting run by Llamau, providing a safe and stable environment for young people who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk. The space supports residents in developing independence, improving wellbeing, and building the skills needed to move on to more secure housing.
What is VIY doing?
VIY is delivering a series of outdoor improvements to enhance the usability of the space. This includes constructing a timber bike shed, building planters, and creating a covered seating area with benches and a table. The project will be delivered alongside young people, giving them hands-on experience in carpentry and construction while working towards recognised accreditations.
What will be the impact of our project?
The project will transform an underused outdoor area into a practical and welcoming space for residents. Secure bike storage will support access to transport and independence, while the seating area will provide a safe place for social interaction and downtime. The planters will introduce opportunities for residents to engage with gardening and ownership of their environment. Through involvement in the build, young people will gain confidence, practical skills, and a sense of achievement that supports their progression into employment and training.
Project contact: wayne@teamviy.com.
What does this community space/venue do?
2Funky Music Café is a dynamic, multi-space entertainment venue that caters to a wide range of live music, nightlife, and private events. At its core is the main two-floor live music venue, hosting gigs and artist performances, complemented by several versatile spaces including The Lobby for student nights and private parties, a vibrant Garden area for DJ sets and social events, and a Roof Terrace with an adjoining function room available for hire. The venue also features a dedicated 300-capacity club space for larger music events, alongside additional outdoor terrace areas overlooking the nearby university. Together, these spaces create a flexible and lively destination that supports everything from grassroots music and club nights to private functions and community events.
What is VIY doing?
VIY will deliver a comprehensive renovation of the venue’s backstage areas, including the green room, toilet facilities and main corridor. Works will involve the installation of new panelling and skirting, along with a full redecoration to significantly improve the overall look and feel of the space.
The main backstage entrance, used by artists, will also be fully upgraded. This will include the construction of a timber shelter over the steps, the addition of new planters, and wider improvements to create a more welcoming and professional arrival point.
In addition, an unused downstairs storage area will be transformed into a new social space/green room for artists, ensuring the backstage provision is both functional and fit for purpose. Overall, this represents a complete transformation of the backstage environment.
What will be the impact of our project?
This project will significantly improve the venue’s ability to attract and retain artists, supporting increased bookings and long-term income generation. By upgrading the backstage areas, the venue will offer a more professional, comfortable and welcoming environment, helping to meet artist expectations and encourage repeat use.
A key improvement is the creation of an additional downstairs green room/social space. The existing upstairs backstage area can only accommodate 2–3 people at most, limiting the venue’s capacity. The new space will allow more artists to be supported at once, making the venue more suitable for larger acts and busy event schedules.
Overall, these improvements will enhance the artist experience, strengthen the venue’s reputation, and directly support its ability to generate more income.
Project contact: charlie@teamviy.com.
Project contact: charlie@teamviy.com.
Project contact: graham@teamviy.com
What does this community space/venue do?
Mackingtosh Place is a supported accommodation setting run by Llamau, providing housing and support for young people who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk. The service focuses on helping residents develop independent living skills, improve wellbeing, and move towards sustainable, long-term housing.
What is VIY doing?
VIY is installing a new kitchen to replace the existing, outdated facilities. The works include removal of the old kitchen and installation of new units, worktops, and key fixtures to create a functional and durable space. The project will be delivered alongside young people, giving them hands-on experience in construction and the opportunity to gain skills and accreditations.
What will be the impact of our project?
The new kitchen will significantly improve the quality and usability of the space, enabling residents to safely prepare meals and develop essential life skills such as cooking, nutrition, and budgeting. By creating a more functional and welcoming environment, the project will support greater independence and confidence. Through their involvement, young people will also gain practical skills, experience, and accredited training, helping to improve their future employment opportunities.
Project contact: wayne@teamviy.com.
Project contact: jordan@teamviy.com
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