MusicAbility Centre Phase 1

Tender description

Penzance-based charity MusicAbility Foundation strives to improve the lives of people in this beautiful but economically deprived area of the UK through music therapy, music education and participation. During the pandemic the Foundation was gifted a fine but rather run-down Grade 2 listed building in the centre of Penzance to create a music centre for health and well-being. MusicAbility is committed to creating flexible and inclusive musical opportunities for people of all ages, life-experience and abilities, and our services are frequently life-changing for the people we work with. On being gifted the building in June 2021 we created a dedicated music therapy room - the only fully equipped music therapy space west of Bristol. This has enabled us to meet the needs of individuals and families, working in close partnership with local schools, social care, and mental health services. We are now working towards renovating and extending the rest of the building to become a unique socially focussed music centre, offering expanded music therapy services and spaces for music teaching, rehearsal and events. The social impact of our project is significant - West Cornwall is rich in creativity but economically-deprived and quite isolated - our catchment includes young people in the most deprived 1½ % in the UK The purchase of this system is part of a grant funded application process and therefore procurement will be subject to grant approval of the project. We will assess tenders received on a Most Economically Advantageous Tender. The charity were fortunate to be bequeathed the Grade II listed property at 10 Parade Street. At the time it had a number of tenants in-situ, however these have gradually moved on. The building is in a general good state of repair with the exception of the rear extension corridor which has a little damp. The building has limited use at present providing a venue for music therapy sessions and a small amount of private hire. The Foundation want to refurbish the building into a music centre to provide facilities for music lessons, rehearsal, performance, therapy and community engagement. This application is to support Phase One of the project which will see the ground floor reconfigured and renovated to improve accessibility and layout to meet the requirements identified through extensive consultation with the community and potential delivery organisations. The refurbishment of the existing buildings includes • Construction of a new entrance access ramp and steps to provide a level access • New toilets to rear entrance area • New fire compartmentation works to the protected corridor and between the Basement and the Ground Floor • refurbished and new doors to upgrade fire and sound insulation • New mechanical ventilation system to the principal ground floor rooms and basement • New suspended ceilings and ceiling linings • Refurbished windows and new secondary glazing • New decorations and finishes