A youngster having some fun at the ARC before its closure in March. Play equipment such as this was a huge hit with local families, many of whom are now rallying to raise funds to restore this fantastic local facility.

In March 2007 a brand new creative arts centre opened in Caterham called the ARC. In the heart of what used to be Caterham Barracks in Caterham-on-the-Hill the building was once a gymnasium, where soldiers from the first and second World Wars trained before going into action. After years of lying empty and unused following the closure of the barracks in the 1980s the Caterham Barracks Trust reopened the building which had been transformed into a modern facility which retained the character of the original building. The main attraction, a 7,000 square foot soft play area, attracted families from all over Caterham and beyond, bringing life back to the old gymnasium. As well as the popular soft play area, the ARC accommodated a dance and performance studio, a creative arts workshop, an exhibition hall and a café.

The Caterham Barracks Community Trust (CBCT), owner of the ARC, has been keen to reopen the building since it closed in March this year and, to raise the capital needed to fund the redevelopment, has launched a Community Share Issue. A prospectus has been drawn up with a business plan, as for any share issue, and the Trust is inviting local people to invest in the community facilities at the ARC. It is the first of its kind in the South East and it's happening in Caterham! Thanks to the many expressions of support given to the Trust by the local community, the Trust is hopeful that the ARC will be fully functioning again very soon. Activities are already taking place within the building, including stand-up comedy nights in the dance studio.

Chief Executive of the Trust, Dick Moran said, "To build something worthwhile actually takes more than money; it requires energy, enthusiasm and commitment. The Trust and its trustees have these in abundance and are leading by example in becoming the founder members and first investors in this innovative approach to raising the money needed for this beautiful community building. The Trust has spent ¡ê1.39 million on redeveloping the ARC and it would be a tragedy for that investment to be wasted".

He went on to say "If the community wants this building to succeed, buying shares is an easy and rewarding way to show it; giving up time or using skills for the benefit of others is also essential for this venture to succeed."

Volunteers playing in the second-hand soft play equipment. Volunteers comprising local individuals and groups are helping to clean and repair the equipment ready for when the ARC is back in action.

The share issue hopes to raise in excess of £100,000 which is the sum needed to relaunch the ARC as a thriving business. This time around it will be a community owned business in which YOU can have a say! For those who do not wish to own shares but wish to support what the Trust is trying to do, it is possible to make donations to the Trust which is a registered charity. Ideally, a small but regular donation in the form of a direct debit will provide the Trust with the kind of reliable income which will allow it to plan for the long term future but any donation is welcome.

Sara Corker, chair of trustees for CBCT, has a personal and professional interest in the arts and she is delighted to support this initiative as a founder member. She said, "It is easy to find inspiration in what is going on here; the Trust is concerned that this business will be sustainable and the company will be able to pay the mortgage so that this building will remain in community ownership for the long term benefit of the people of Caterham. This building was always intended to develop creativity at the heart of the community and the recent dance class in Indian Dance for Teachers held in the ARC shows the way we would like to go forward."

On the back of the share issue, the Trust is working with volunteers to rebuild, repaint and revive the ARC so that it can be opened sooner rather than later. It is hoped that people will be ready to offer their time and expertise as well as their money. To facilitate the process, Dick and Maria Moran have bought £20,000 worth of secondhand softplay equipment to get the ball rolling.

The new play equipment as it looked before it was dismantled and brought to the ARC

Mandy Streets, a local resident and ARC supporter, has set up a new group on Facebook designed to attract volunteers to help put the ARC back together and more than 80 people have already signed up to the 'ARC Community Project'. She says she wanted to get involved for the sake of her children but also just because it is a good thing to be part of a community project. She believes this is an opportunity not to be missed and would like the soft play and café available through the winter for mums, like her, to meet their friends and for her children to be able to play safely. She says the project needs leadership and vision to succeed and she and her friends are happy to get behind Dick Moran and the Trust to make it happen.

Dick added: "I have already had people coming along with exciting proposals for the ARC, including a lady who is keen to run children's parties, and a local restauranteur who would like to run a bistro. We all want the ARC to re-open as soon as possible and the quicker the money comes in and more volunteers come forward, the sooner we can open!"

Given the level of interest in the ARC expressed by local councillors on Tandridge District Council, the Trust is has expressed its willingness to brief the Council on how this approach to community investment works and plans to invite the Council to work with the Trust to develop this and other community facilities.