LATEST UPDATES (October)
There are some new items on the web site now
Hot off the press:
Flying Saucer mentioned in parliament
They can be accessed from the menu, but here are some quick links.
Minutes of 12th October meeting
Who's who on the Steering Group
Slide show from the 12th October public meeting
Timeline of the activities since the Flying Saucer closed
Where are we now?
HELP TO SAVE OUR COMMUNITY’S PUB
This website comes to you from the members of the Friends of The Flying Saucer group which has been formed to raise the funds required to purchase The Flying Saucer Pub.
You may have attended the meetings held in All Saints Church and Hempstead library .
On the 8th July we made application to Medway Council to make the Pub an Asset of Community Value, and we are pleased to say, it has been granted.
What Can We Do?
The Flying Saucer has always been more than just a pub, and with your help, we can hopefully make Community ownership of the pub a reality.
We aim to raise £900,000 through selling of shares, grants, funding and loans for the freehold purchase, and much needed renovation work, this has already started with ‘pledges’ being made, the more money raised by shares, the more we could make with match funding.
THE BENEFITS TO YOU
By investing in Community Shares, you will be supporting the long term viability of our pub, our community and Hempstead as a whole. You will have the opportunity to return the flying saucer to the community again.
We will be forming a company - Friends of the Flying Saucer, which will be a Community Benefit Society (CBS) and it will be registered with and regulated by, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), using the Plunkett Foundation’s Model Rules for community ownership.
Anyone who invests the minimum of £250.00, which will be the price of a single share, will have a vote and therefore a say in the affairs of the business at General Meetings, and it is the intention that there will be a committee of members to oversee the day-to-day running of the business. Of course, we welcome bigger share holdings (legal maximum is £100,000) but the business will operate strictly on a one member, one vote basis, regardless of how many shares you hold. No one person/investor will be able to take control, and cannot make money from selling shares due to them having a fixed value and being non transferable.
Profits made by the CBS will be invested back into the flying saucer, and maybe other local projects in the Hempstead community, chosen by members.
The company will not pay dividends to shareholders, but after three years, subject to sufficient profits, interest and benefits will be given on your investment, and withdrawals of shares from year four at the Management discretion.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help shape the future of the flying saucer by attending community meetings, vote at the members meetings, elect future management committees or stand yourself.
You can help by volunteering in the pub, carry out minor renovations, IT skills, or if you have specific skills you would like to share as part of a training program to mentor staff and volunteers, or volunteer for the many clubs, groups etc that could be held.
To help us judge the level of support we have, we would be grateful, if you are interested, to send an email to savetheflyingsaucer@gmail.com with your full name, address, contact number and the number of shares you are prepared to pledge. No money changes hands at this stage, and this is not a final commitment on your part.
You can also make your pledge here on the web site.
More financial information and details of the proposals will be provided in due course before you decide to proceed.
Further Information
If you have any questions about the formation of the Friends of The Flying Saucer group or the proposed share structure, then please feel free to email us at the address shown.
If you would like to make a pledge then please complete the form below.