Check Your Letterbox: St Ives Residents Asked to Help Shape Town’s Future

Residents of St Ives are being urged to check their letterboxes this month as a crucial survey hits 1,500 randomly selected households. The survey aims to evaluate the impact of government grants on local projects, businesses, residents, and visitors, focusing in particular on the restoration of St Ives Theatre, home to the award-winning youth theatre group, Kidz R Us.

The project, which has received just under £1.5 million from the £19.9 million secured by the St Ives Town Deal in partnership with Cornwall Council, is part of a wider effort to regenerate the town.

Importance of community participation

Andrew Baragwanath, Chair of the St Ives Town Deal Board, emphasised the importance of local involvement in the evaluation process. He said, “Understanding the real impact of government-funded projects against what we aim to achieve is vital to our town’s future sustainability. I heartily encourage everyone who receives a survey to complete and return it on time.”

The survey will be available both online and in hardcopy and may involve face-to-face interviews with selected participants. Residents are advised to remain vigilant of scams, with officials confirming that no banking information or payments will be requested as part of the process.

Theatre’s role in the project

Anthony Skitt, Director of St Ives Theatre CIC, expressed enthusiasm about the theatre’s inclusion in the national evaluation. “I look forward to us being part of such a high-profile evaluation, and I hope our beautiful theatre’s restoration contributes to a lasting legacy of community-driven grassroots investment in all our towns.”

Work on St Ives Theatre is progressing well, with the building set to reopen with a brand-new production by Easter 2025. For more information on the project, visit St Ives Theatre Regeneration.

About the survey

The survey is being run by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) as part of a broader two-year national evaluation of the Town Deals programme. St Ives Theatre is one of 20 case studies chosen to examine how government funding has impacted different types of projects and communities.

The evaluation includes two key parts: a process evaluation to understand how funding mechanisms work, and an impact evaluation to estimate changes in outcomes like employment, land use, and business growth as a result of the programme. More information can be found in the Feasibility Report.

About the St Ives Town Deal

In June 2021, St Ives was awarded up to £19.9 million through the Town Deals programme to support a range of regeneration projects. Cornwall is the only area in the country invited to submit proposals for four towns—Camborne, Penzance, St Ives, and Truro—securing a total of £88.7 million across the county. For further details, visit St Ives Town Deal.

The survey’s results will help shape the future of St Ives by measuring the effectiveness of government-funded regeneration efforts and ensuring long-term benefits for the community.