We discovered that Cinema for All (aka the British Federation of Film Societies) have a programme that includes training and £300 towards getting our project off the ground. So we applied! Below is the detail of what we submitted… it should be noted that we included Thorngate Halls as an example of the kind of venue available in Gosport but that we aren’t at this point tied to them – it’s just a proposal!
Tell us about the types of films you’d like to screen (list no more than 15) along with an explanation about why you’ve chosen these types of films.
Military / Espionage
Our borough of Gosport has a long military tradition. We will want to bring films that will interest people from a military community and perhaps expose them to alternative perspectives.
Scientific Innovation and Engineering
Screening films that will inspire people with an interest in STEM. There is a pride of British invention in the area. Spitfires, Hovercraft, Aviation and Maritime technology are integral to the area.
Sustainability / Green Issues
There is a growing awareness of environmentalism and community action in Gosport. We want to cater to this. For example, we have founded Repair Café Gosport (a non-profit) part of a borough wide “Green Umbrella” initiative. We are active volunteers with our local council for voluntary action, Gosport Voluntary Action (GVA).
Heritage
Gosport has hundreds of sites of historical importance and many locals are actively engaged in nurturing them. This audience will be inspired by screenings related to history and heritage preservation across the UK and world.
Within these streams we feel that audiences will welcome and benefit from choice and exposure to classic, independent (innovative), foreign language and documentary films. We will also serve audiences of museum members who will be open to viewing archival and specialist films.
If you have a venue please tell us about it and your local area.
Our immediate goal is to deliver two screenings in March 2023 at Thorngate Halls in partnership with GVA. We will capitalise on the audience of the membership and supporters of GVA as well as Gosport Community Association, which operates the venue.
The venue is ideal and is easy to access for the borough’s population of 81,9001.
Out longer-term vision is to meet demand from other organisations. We have obtained expressions of interest from other venues which would like to offer screenings through the rest of 2023 and further into the future.
How many people can you fit in the venue?
Thorngate Halls: Ballroom: up to 300, Theatre: 150-200.
With parking, seating, licensed bars and catering.
(source: Room Hire | Thorngate Halls))
What other cinema facilities are nearby (including commercial, independent or community cinemas)?
There are no commercial cinemas within the Gosport Borough nearest:
Reel Cinema, Fareham (8km by road)
Odeon Port Solent (15km by road)
Cineworld Whitely (17km by road)
St. Vincent’s College community cinema (within 2km).
We intend support and collaborate with this academically focussed group.
There are cinemas in the City of Portsmouth. Whilst close across water they are longer distance by road than those referenced.
Is your venue accessible? Please list any accessibility info or facilities below.
The venue is very accessible and is a focal point for community activities, their clientelle includes many military veterans and retirees.
Explain why there is a need for a community cinema where you live. Who is your intended audience?
Gosport’s population is not served well for cinema. We are amongst the 20% of most deprived areas in the whole of England with several neighbourhoods that demonstrate the need for projects of this nature.
Isolation from the surrounding region.
This isolation stems from our geography (situated on a peninsular) and the transport challenges2. We intend to provide a local venue to serve those who are unable to travel.
Decline and economic stagnation.
There has been a longstanding decline traditional jobs and a shortage of newly created opportunities because not enough new businesses are attracted to the area3. We want to provide affordable entertainment that includes those who are deprived and living in poverty.
Ageing population.
There has been an increase of 24.1% in people aged 65 years and over in the past decade.4 Gosport has an OADR of 334 people aged over 65 years old for every 1,000 people of working age5. (OADR nationally for the same period is 288)
Low employment rate.
Most employed people travel to jobs outside the borough. There has been a decline in employment opportunities due to the winding-down of traditional MOD employment opportunities. We want to inspire youth and the unemployed by screening inspirational films.
What will you do to ensure your screenings attract as diverse an audience as possible?
Our ethos is inclusive. In addition to targeting the general public, our screenings will be promoted through our network of non-profit organisations, council of voluntary service and various professional connections.
The organisers are active in the community and are involved in numerous non-profit organisations and we have a track record of creating successful, inclusive, volunteer led projects working with:
Gosport Voluntary Action (GVA)
Our local Council for Voluntary Action. We volunteer at this organisation and are founders of a Marketing Forum which is part of their Bringing Gosport Together initiative.
GVA-run community initiatives include: Volunteer Brokerage, Supported Volunteering, 16-25 year olds “Loud and Proud”, Walking for Health, Advocacy, Befriending service (including serving people with complex mental health needs), Dustbusters and Mend and Tend (cleaning and home and garden maintenance).
There are also many organisations that are affiliated with GVA and we will target these. These connected non-profits include a significant number of carers as well as other under-represented people in our community.
Gosport Access Group & Disability Forum / Gosport Older Persons Forum
We have working relationship with an advocates from these groups and intend to co-opt them as advisors to make our screenings as accessible as possible.
Museums and Related Organisations
We work closely with a range of local museums including: The Hovercraft Museum, Diving Museum, Hampshire Cultural Trust and Conflict Museum.
As referenced in section 3 we are fully aware of the needs and aim to include those from diverse backgrounds.
References
[1] Gosport population change, Census 2021 – ONS
[2] Economic Development Strategy 2021 – Gosport Borough Council
[3] Addressing Inequalities and Deprivation in Gosport – Gosport Borough Council
[4] How the population changed in Gosport: Census 2021 – ONS
[5]Demographic Projection 2019 – JG Consulting for Gosport Borough Council
Gosport Community Cinema 