Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust

Trustees and Funding 

Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust was formed by Celia Ferguson, a member of the Herdman family, in September 1999, with a remit covering the whole Conservation Area of Sion Mills, but with the primary purpose of rescuing the old Mill buildings. The Trustees are all from professional or business backgrounds and are drawn from both religious traditions. The Trust's structure also includes a Consultative Committee (comprising 15 members of the community and 3 Councillors elected by Strabane District Council) and an associate membership of supporters.  The Trust is a Company Limited by Guarantee with Charitable Status, (Company No: NI36935; Charity Reference XR33087) 

The Trustees are:

Mr James Foster MA MRTPI (Chairman)

Mr Peter Coyne MRICS MSCS MBA

Mrs Celia Ferguson

Mr Harry Friar MBE

Mr David Moore LL.B, LL.M

Ms Natalie O’Doherty MSc

Ms Mary O'Dwyer

Mr Graham Robinson BDSc 

Mrs Norma Smyth

 The Trust's aims and objectives as stated in the Memorandum of Association are:

To secure for the public benefit by such means as are available:

• the preservation, protection and improvement of buildings or structures of particular beauty or of historic, environmental, architectural, industrial or constructional merit or interest in the area of benefit, including any ancillary buildings and
• the restoration, renovation and conservation of gardens, parkland, planned landscapes and estates directly related to such buildings or structures in the area of benefit.

 In furtherance of the above Objects are 12 categories, including the following, saying the Company may:

• promote and encourage the education of the public in historic architecture, understanding of planning, and appreciation of the built, created and natural environment whether through exhibitions, lectures, seminars or otherwise
• act as a co-ordinating body and co-operate with the local authority, local planning authority and all other statutory authorities, voluntary organisations, charities, and persons having aims similar to those of the company
• foster, undertake and support research into any aspect of the Objects of the company; disseminate the useful results of such research; and publish and assist in publishing reports, books, pamphlets or similar material promoting, making known or connected with the Objects of the company
• raise money by subscriptions, donations, grants, loans or otherwise for the purposes of the company provided that the company shall not undertake any permanent trading activities in raising funds for the Objects of the company.

 There is a separate trading company, Sion Mills Ltd., with the same Trustees. Its objects are:

• To benefit the people and community of Sion Mills, Strabane and the surrounding areas by the creation of job opportunities and employment and to encourage others to participate in creating opportunities for leisure, recreational, cultural and community activities
• To look to local businesses, education establishments, councils and any other organisations to input effort and advice and finance into a project that is designed to improve the well being and confidence of those unfortunate enough to have been out of work for a long time.

 FUNDERS  TO  DATE

Who are the Trust’s main partners and stakeholders and in what ways have they supported our work?

Revenue Funding (in order of the level of support)
1.    The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
2.    The Pilgrim Trust
3.    The Architectural Heritage Fund
4.    Lloyds TSB Foundation NI

5.    The Garfield Weston Foundation
6.    Ulster Garden Villages
7.    The Manifold Trust
8.    The Esme Mitchell Trust
9.    The Mercers Company

Capital Funding

1.        Strabane District Council

§         Gave matched funding of £4,000 for our Brochure in 2000.

§         Paid £50,000 for the Master Plan in 2004.

§         Granted £1000 to update Workspace Business Plan

§         Voluntary Group Support Grant of £2500 for new Website in 2007.

§         Giving a grant of £48,000 towards enabling works and car parking for the Work Space units in 2007.  £24,000 of this was PEACE II funding.

     In May 2008 granted £20,000 towards shortfall in funding for Workspace on receipt of Tenders.

     £5,000 Programme Delivery grant for Village Heritage Committee tourism project.

§         Appoint 3 councillors annually to the Consultative Committee

§         Chief Executive and Economic Development Officer attend Trustees Meetings

2.                  International Fund for Ireland

§         Funding the workspace units to the tune of £393,730

§         Representative attended monthly Trustee meetings for 9 years.

3.                  Dept for Social Development

§         Funding workspace units to the tune of £393,730 + further associated grants totalling £140,000.

§         Representative has attended monthly Trustee meetings for past 10 years and helps in any way he can.

4.                  Dept of Enterprise Trade and Investment

§         Funding workspace units by £234,000 - EU PEACE II funding.

§         Facilitated renewable energy grant in 2004 for water-source heat pump. Interreg grant of almost €2m had to be rescinded due to Heritage Lottery Fund application being refused.

5.                  The Heritage Lottery Fund

§         Through Awards for All funded equipment for Trust Office

§         Project Planning Grant 2002

§         Funded the Conservation Plan 2003

6.                  The NI Environment Agency 

§         Have accepted the Conservation Plan

§         Generally supportive

§         Have promised to give us statutory funding for the project

§         Have already given the maximum they can for the Mill chimney

7.                  The Manifold Trust

§         Gave start-up funding of £5000

§         Paid for Mill chimney surveys

§         Have paid £100,000 for the restoration of the Mill chimney

8.                  The Clothworkers Foundation

§         A capital grant of £50,000 (for Workspace)

The following have supported us financially over the past 7 years:

9.                  Architectural Heritage Fund (Feasibility Study, Conservation/Master Plan and revenue funding)

10.              The Ireland Funds (Education project)

11.              The New Opportunities Fund (Creating Common Ground) – Railway Recreation area project.

12.              Strabane Local Strategy Partnership (funding for Economic Appraisal & Business Plan for Centre for Curiosity & Imagination)

13.              Strabane/Lifford Development Commission (funded Brochure)

14.              Interreg (funded Brochure)

15.              Dept of Culture, Arts & Leisure (funded Feasibility Study)

16.              InvestNI – funded the Business Plan

Sion Mills BPT would like to thank all its funders for their help and support in enabling the Trust to continue its work on the conservation and regeneration of Sion Mills. 

This Website has been funded by Strabane District Council to assist the Trust in achieving its aims. The Trust hopes it will:

• Increase awareness world-wide of the historical and architectural importance of Sion Mills
• Inform the general public and encourage and facilitate communication and public input
• Provide education on the history of Sion Mills and its place in the industrial heritage of Ireland
• Provide PR and marketing to encourage tourism, with links to similar heritage attractions
• Be a marketing tool for attracting tenants for the regenerated mill buildings
• Provide a Forum for discussion on aspects relevant to the Trust’s work, and on topical matters of interest or concern (including being a vehicle for any lobbying the Trust judges relevant)
• Assist those who are researching their ancestral roots and family history
• Promote the principles of good conservation within the Conservation Area and beyond
• Enable the distribution of Trust publications, photographs and other items of interest
• Help people to understand that Sion Mills’s social and built heritage can be the basis of a successful future economy for the area