PROJECTS in Launceston are set to benefit from the newly established Launceston (Cornwall) Community Interest Company (CIC).

Joint director, Ellie Mason, who set up community magazine Launceston Life a year ago, is excited to see where the CIC will take the town.

“A Community Interest Company is registered with Companies House and you pay corporate tax, so it will run like a normal business, but any profits made will go back into the community — that is legally something that has to happen,” she explained. “Our area is Launceston and the surrounding parishes, so it runs in the PL15 postcode.”

Launceston CIC will cover parishes within the PL15 postcode, being ‘town centre-central’. The CIC will incorporate Launceston Life, Launceston Business Life and any additional projects that Ellie takes on, such as the Charles Causley Trust programmes, and any profits made from the advertising and sponsorship for these projects will then go to the Launceston Community Development Trust (CDT).

The trust aims to provide projects to benefit the town, with their two main focuses being the provision of 30 affordable houses in the town and ‘Active Launceston’, which seeks to provide better sporting facilities locally.

Ellie said: “Our profits will go to the Launceston Community Development Trust and, as an asset locked company, the money will then be put into the community through any projects the Community Development Trust are working on at that time. At the moment, they’re focusing on the 30 affordable houses to be built from Kensey Hill to Tavistock Road.”

The CIC, whose three directors are made up of Ellie, Dr Ian Tumbridge and Lee Hatwell, have been in talks with Launceston Town Council’s clerk, officers and the Tourist Information Centre, who are all on board with the scheme.

“The aim of the CIC is to be an enabler for the town and to work in partnership with stake holders to make Launceston into a prosperous, viable place to live and run a business. It’s to take on projects that will turn a profit.

“It could be anything from putting on an event, to publishing a local guide, to working with a local company in Launceston. It is centred around print, marketing, media, rebranding and events. We’re reaching out to any organisation in the area who is interested in engaging with the community better. The money from every advert or sponsor contributes to their town, so they can feel really good about the fact it goes into the community.”

One of the projects Ellie is undertaking is a town hall directory for Launceston Town Council in order to promote events at the central location in town. “Again, this will go back into the community,” Ellie continued. “By giving it to me they’re putting it back into the community.

“We can do things that will help the town grow, but it’s non-threatening so it means more people are likely to pass work our way. There will be a better sense of ownership for the community.

“We will also be able to apply for funding that the likes of the town council aren’t able to apply for, meaning we can take on more projects for the town. It shows our commitment to the town, too.”

Launceston Town Council has recently allocated a budget for a new town map, which the CIC will also be jumping on board with. Ellie said: “We will use the same map for consistency, but we will produce a fold-away map to distribute to surrounding towns like Bude, Okehampton, Tavistock, Bodmin and Looe to encourage footfall into the town. This will be in conjunction with the town council, and we will be able to enhance the map by distributing it to outside areas. There will be advertising to fund it.”

In addition, the CIC hopes to explore a range of new ideas to either introduce or build on existing ventures to Launceston. Some of these early ideas include community and business events, the launch of a ‘shop local’ campaign, enhancing the town trail, signage across the town and funding a town rebrand.

Launceston CIC will also have its own set of merchandise t-shirts, with a dark blue and grey colour scheme featuring a brand new logo which will incorporate the infamous Launceston Castle and town arch.

As part of her research into how the CIC could benefit Launceston, Ellie has connections with Falmouth BID and Falmouth Town Council, who have recently achieved an award for their partnership.

Some of the ideas that have come out of this include a town identity event — for Falmouth this is Falmouth Feast Week; town WiFi; an empty shop front project; an increase in marketing and PR and an enhanced loyalty card team, of which Launceston already has, run by the Chamber of Commerce.

For Ellie, the Launceston (Cornwall) CIC is a way of improving the town she holds dear. She said: “I’m so passionate about making Launceston a more vibrant and viable place to live and instilling more pride in living in Launceston and putting it more firmly on the map for people to live, shop and visit.

“It has been overlooked for so long, so it’s an opportunity for me and the other directors to utilise it. It’s about bringing people from different businesses together as well.”

Ellie’s family is firmly rooted in Launceston: “My family has been in Launceston for hundreds of years — mainly the Hillman and Cottrell families. My great uncle is on the war memorial in the town and my grandad used to work at the Cornish & Devon Post as a type setter — that was Jack Hillman.

“Although I moved away to study and then worked in the South East, I eventually moved home and I wanted to use my skills for Launceston. I’m really passionate about making it a better place.

“Once we’ve done the full year, the profits will go to Launceston Community Development Trust and it then depends on what the trust is working on at that point. They are currently working on the 30 affordable homes in Launceston and Active Launceston, which is for sports and clubs facilities. They’ll be asking people, do you like what we’ve got now and what do you want for the town?

“It’s up to the community to tell Launceston Community Development Trust what they want. The CIC will be looking at funding that kind of feedback.

“What we want people to do is turn around and say, that’s great but I can give you this to work on. No idea is a bad one.”

Another supporter to add to the list is Launceston Town Council, which resolved to support Ellie’s venture during its full council meeting on Tuesday, September 17, following her presentation.

Cllr Rob Tremain said: “This is all about working together and that is something we have been trying to do for a long time and it won’t cost us any money so I think we should support it.”

Mayor Cllr Dave Gordon said: “I am happy to propose that we support this project.”

Those present voted to support the Launceston CIC with Cllr John Conway voting against.