Trustees looking to transform Ramsey courthouse into a community hub hope it will become something the whole island can be proud of.

Open mic nights, a farmers’ market, exhibitions and early yoga sessions could become regular features in the town’s building if about £500,000 in funding is raised within 12 months.

As the Examiner reported on Tuesday, Ramsey Commissioners have announced that an agreement over the future use of the courthouse has been reached between themselves and a not-for-profit group called The Heart of Ramsey Limited (THOR).

Preliminary floor designs were released for the public to view via the group’s new website, which show plans for studio and audience space, a cafe and office storage. Money raised would cover a full refurbishment of the building’s interior plus equipment.

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THOR trustee Georgie Revill, who owns Cook Shack in Bride and runs Mannkind Festival for those with learning or physical disabilities and their carers, believes a community hub has been sorely needed in the north of the island.

’I met with Tim Baker [MHK for Ayre and Michael] over another matter and asked him: "Do you know what’s happening with the courthouse?". He said: "I’m glad you brought it up because I think this is what should happen",’ she said.

’We were both on the same level.

’Ramsey needs to be brought together again and there is an opportunity there for a beautiful facility in the north of the island for a community hub.

’I very much wanted to give back to the community and I feel I’ve got the drive and the vision of what I want to bring the lonely out of their houses, and that’s not just the elderly.

’I just want this to be the most vibrant hub that not only Ramsey, but the whole island can be proud of.’

Mrs Revill and Mr Baker are part of the THOR team, along with co-founder of architectural practice Penketh-Millar Chris Penketh, local businessman Nigel Watson and business development manager Emma Watson, who will act as its secretary and director of marketing.

’We are a great team,’ Mrs Revill added. ’We’ve got a really good idea of what Ramsey needs, but it’s only right that we ask the public what they would like.

’On our open day we will have suggestion boxes and leaflets to let people share ideas.

’We want to get small groups like Brownies and Scouts involved in raising money.

’It’s your building, we’re just the trustees and we’re doing this from the love out our hearts and to give back to the community.

’It’s not for financial benefit. The more we do for society the happier we are.’

She said that the courthouse would have a ’hot-desking’ space, similar to the Eagle Labs in Douglas, for entrepreneurs to hire out equipped desks to do their work.

Arts and crafts workshops could take place within the building as well as markets for people to sell their work or produce.

’We’re not going to take business away from shops. We’re going to bring more people in to Ramsey,’ she said.

’The cafe is going to be very small and will employ vulnerable people, teenagers wondering what to do in life and those with disabilities. It’s all about inclusivity.

’I have an autistic son who is 27. There needs to be something for people with disabilities to do.’

THOR has also looked at getting companies to sponsor the old cells, which would be available for people to learn the drums or trumpet, Mrs Revill said.

The building was bought by the commissioners from the Manx government in 2017 for £80,000.

Originally a courthouse and a police station, it later became a post office.

Mrs Revill, the chairman of charity Skills for Independent Living Scheme (SKILS) for young adults with learning difficulties, added: ’My grandfather was a Deemster who lived in Santon.

’He would get the train to St John’s and change to come to Ramsey. The building has got a story. It means something to me that building.

’We are sympathetic to what the building has been in the traditional day. There will be lots of rooms dedicated to what it was.’

With the money raised, it is said that building works could take six to eight months before the centre opens to the public. This is hoped to be by Easter 2021.