Crookfur House Community Hub

Gallery of Images

Disused board room at the facility that was earmarked for reconfiguration as an activity space

Cafe area after refurbishment

Board room area after refurbishment now an adaptable meeting, activity and celebration space. This is one of three spaces brought into use for the community.

Residents at the facility opening event in January 2025

Releasing fish donated by a local business into our redeveloped nature pond area

Project Description

The Retail Trust Hugh Fraser Estate is home to 124 retirees of retail, 78% of whom are living with a self-reported health issue and 80% who are financially deprived and in receipt of housing benefit. This vast estate, provides 119 properties tailored to the varying needs of our retirees, as well as green and social spaces for engagement and interaction that are open to the wider community.  Recent studies show social isolation can be damaging to both mental and physical health, particularly shortening lifespan in older people. We want both our residents, and the significant population of older people living in the wider community (19% of Newton Mearns population, 22% of population in East Renfrewshire), to lead happy healthy engaged lives.  

In December 2022, our estate residents committee highlighted that the estate cafe and associated community facilities were no longer suitable to meet their needs. Built between the late 1960’s and 1980’s, these facilities were originally designed for use at a time when people lived shorter lives with reduced additional health needs. The building was not efficient or particularly comfortable, with existing glazing and heating systems rendering it too hot in summer and too cold in the winter. Coupled with this, accessibility needed improvement, and the 2 available activity spaces were poorly configured, dated, and required as a thoroughfare to the cafe kitchen (so could only be used privately outside of cafe hours). There were also what residents felt like ‘dead spaces’ that could be brought back into improved use to support social inclusion, activity, and interaction.  

The resident community felt that during Covid, linked to the need for residents to ‘shield’, the estate had lost it’s links with the wider community that had brought life to the central community hub, and provided opportunities for residents and the community alike. This had included – a buzzing cafe setting well known across the area and where people came together to connect and chat; classes and activities such as performance groups and exercise classes; visits from the local nursery children; and seasonal fayres which attracted a wide cross section of local people. 

On resident commented, ‘It’s the hub of the estate, but it’s not the hub at the moment, it’s an empty hub’. 

Building on these initial discussions, we supported our community to share their ideas and collaborate on designs to improve this central hub, to better meet their needs now and in the future. We also started to engage key stakeholders in the wider community, to re-build and extend local links, integrating this into project design. This included initial relationships with the local council, elected members and MSP’s, voluntary action, befriending and activity groups (Richmond Fellowship and Helping Hands) and Age Concern. Consultation findings were enhanced with community questionnaires, desk-based research and audits, and wider strategic fit.  

Whilst this developmental phase was underway, a review of the property identified safety issues with the central facilities, and coupled with the exposure of asbestos during surveys, the building had to be closed in May 2023. By this time we had developed clear and needs led co-designed proposals, but had not yet secured funds to what was looking like a £1m+ redevelopment budget. We were unable to meet the full cost through charity reserves.  

We recognised the need and importance of making this improvement project a reality for our residents, stakeholders and community, so set to work on proactively seeking charitable, government and corporate support. Between August 2023 and March 2024 we successfully secured over £800,000, around 80% of funds needed, a very commendable achievement! Funds came from UK and local government, Hugh Fraser Foundation, Next Charitable Trust, bp, Garfield Weston Foundation, Scottish Power Renewables and Bruce Wake Charity. We were able to meet the balance from charity reserves and forge ahead with the project. 

Our contractors were due to complete refurbishment in September 2024, but the significant fundraising challenge associated with the build works had left little opportunity for us to seek income to improve the interiors beyond basic decoration. Whilst we were excited to be able to bring the community dream to life, it felt like we were falling short in creating something outstanding as we’d need to reinstate the old, dated furniture. This could make this new and exciting venture feel stuck in the shadows of its past existence.  

It was here that we started to explore in-kind support from our corporate partners, and a chance discussion about the challenge we were facing with a senior executive from Next dramatically changed the shape of the project for significant good. Next agreed to work aligned with the community needs identified, to not only design the new cafe and community spaces, but also donating all paint, wallpaper, furniture and furnishings to a value of more than £50,000. Our relationships also brokered further support from Dobbies garden centres to refurbish the pond and surrounding outside space, Very to donate TV screens for community rooms, and Clark Contracts to build the pond safety fence.  

Unfortunately, during the build process issues with asbestos and water piping caused additional costs and time delays. However, the savings made from the in-kind supply of paint/wallpaper (Next) and refurbishment of outside spaces (Dobbies and Clark Contracts led to cost savings that freed up finance to meet these costs.  

We celebrated the opening of the new modern and fit for purpose facility providing the new cafe, 3 activity spaces, nature pond, and welcoming reception in January 2025. The formal cafe food offer launched in April 2025.  

Our Community Committee of residents, community organisations and relevant stakeholders launched in February 2025, facilitating a collaborative approach to leadership of the community hub, placing beneficiaries at the heart of decision making.  

In September 2025 we were thrilled to be selected to win the Community Impact Award at the annual East Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce Awards, recognition of our progress in supporting the whole community, and the value of this facility locally.  

Today, the hub and its impact on the community is going from strength to strength. With funding from National Lottery and Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire we’ve secured funding for a Venue and Activities Coordinator, who started in January 2026. This role is extending our community reach even further and developing new needs led activities that meet gaps in provision.  

Over the last year we’ve developed and strengthened collaborative relationships with Work East Ren, East Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce, East Renfrewshire Council, Business Gateway, Health and Social Care Partnership, the Fire Service, East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure Trust, local elected members, MSP’s and MP’s, Helping Hands, Age Concern, Richmond Fellowship, Barrhead Housing, Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire, and other small localised groups. We’ve hosted training and learning events, volunteer celebrations, dementia support groups, business breakfasts, carers respite activities, craft clubs, walking group, local birthday and Christmas celebrations, themed community meals, gentle exercise classes and baby group – to name but a few! We’re seeing wider use of the cafe, and in particular it’s a joy to see children happily bobbing about.  

The success of this community led initiative, which continues to empower our beneficiaries to lead in a way that best meets their needs, is driving new collaborative developments to improve community access to nature, and create a new village square with codesigned amenities and services. We’re excited by the future this catalyst project is affording our community!  

Supporting Statement