Frequently Asked Questions

The main benefit from the project is that the profits from the pub will be invested back into the community. In addition, the residents, and friends of Helpston will benefit directly from having a vital amenity preserved for future generations, both through the use of the facility itself but also because the Bluebell will continue to play a part in making Helpston a stronger, more vibrant and cohesive community in which to live.  

The steering committee is looking at all funding options, it is likely that funding will come from a number of sources, such as grants, possibly loans and community investment. We need your community investment to help purchase The Bluebell. Without sufficient investment from the community, we will be unable to establish the business and ensure the pub continues at the heart of the community for the long term.  

Yes, they do. Everyone has an equal voice, regardless of the size of their investment.  One member, one vote.  

Yes, it is the Management Committees aim to pay a reasonable interest rate to our members. The details of which will be confirmed at a later date. Interest will be paid gross, and it is each member’s responsibility to declare such earnings to HMRC if appropriate.  A dividend is not payable on community shares. 

The detailed share rules are yet to be confirmed; however, it is normal practice for there to be withdrawal restrictions on shares in the first three years of investment. This is to allow the business to build sufficient reserves. You cannot sell or transfer your shares, and withdrawals must be funded from surpluses or new capital raised from members. The withdrawal of shares is solely at the Management Committee’s discretion taking into account the businesses long-term interests, , the need to maintain adequate reserves, and the commitment to the community we serve. Shares can only be withdrawn at their original price. i.e., £1 in £1 out.

It is possible that we will proceed with the project but after incurring some costs, find we unable to complete the purchase, even after we have an in-principal agreement with the seller and have secured the funds. In the unlikely event that this happens, the grants received will cover most of these costs. Over and above this, we will seek donations from shareholders to cover any costs incurred and return payments in full to any shareholders that don't wish to donate

All the business’s assets, including the freehold of the building, would be sold and the proceeds of the sale (after paying any creditors) divided between the shareholders up to the value of their shares. You might receive the full value of your shares back or you might lose part or all your investment, however, with the significant asset value within the building and plot, this will retain a substantial value towards any end value of the investment 

This share offer is unregulated, as it is exempt from the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 or subsidiary regulations, which means there is no right of complaint to the Financial Ombudsman, nor can you apply to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme 

Yes.  However, you should note that only the first named investor on the application form will be a member with voting rights. If, for example, a couple would both like to be members then each person should make a separate application.  

Yes, so long as you are a member in your own right, and provided the total amount invested does not exceed the maximum investment amount. You will only have one vote, as is the case for any member. The shares can be transferred to them as soon as they reach 18 years of age. Just complete the relevant section on the application form. 

No – Shares in the society cannot be sold directly by the individual shareholder.  They are a special type of share (Community Share) which can be recovered by applying to the Society to withdraw the value of some or all of the shares you own.  There will be restrictions on the amount of shares that can be withdrawn each year (likely limited to 15% of the total Society share number) on a first come first served basis assuming adequate funds available to satisfy this.   

Your shares will form part of your inheritance and can be transferred under the terms of your will.  

The level of investment of all shareholders is not a public document. This information is retained by the Chair and Treasurer and not circulated to the wider membership.  

The minimum that you can invest is £250 (i.e. 250 shares at £1 each) if you live within a 5-mile radius of the Bluebell, although we hope that most investors will invest considerably more than the minimum. If you live more than 5 miles from the The Bluebell, the minimum you can invest is £500 (i.e. 500 shares at £1 each).

We expect and will require the business to be a profitable venture. We are in the very early stages of carefully evaluating  its strengths and weaknesses and expect our  projections to show that we can maintain it as a successful business. It is well proven that communities that work together to set up such an enterprise will support it in the future. 99% of all the Community owned pubs succeed.  

Yes. We are in the early stages of valuing The Bluebell as a community asset, and have not entered into formal negotiations with the seller . However, you can be assured that we will only be paying a realistic market price for the pub, that ensures that the project can be a long-term benefit to the community.  

As noted in the business plan, to bring in additional capital we could choose to extend the share offer, take out a larger commercial mortgage than budgeted or solicit loans at favourable rates from members of the community.

A Steering Committee consisting of Helpston residents who care passionately about The Bluebell and what it could mean for the community. They donated money to help register the company and will be investing in shares. They will have no personal financial interest in the project, above and beyond their own investment in community shares. They have  voluntarily contributed a large amount of time to the project and this has been supplemented with advice and considerable support from many people and organisations.  

A democratically elected Management Committee will appoint a landlord to manage the day to day running of the business. Once a management committee is in place they will work closely with the landlord to ensure that the vision for The Bluebell is delivered, however the management committee will not micro-manage the landlord and ultimately all decisions regarding the management of the pub will be the landlord’s.

No, they are under no obligation to sell the pub to us. The seller does however recognise the strength of the community and the success that the pub could achieve in being run in this format.

  Further details can be found here www.ourbluebellpub.co.uk