PACE Theatre Company has secured a £300,000 loan to help purchase a permanent home in Paisley, bringing its staff, volunteers and activities together under one roof.
The youth arts charity has relocated to The Kiln Creative Learning Hub in Paisley town centre. The loan from Social Investment Scotland will help it expand its reach, improve accessibility and create more opportunities for young people across Renfrewshire and beyond.
Established in 1988, PACE works with more than 1,000 young people each week through its youth theatre programme. Nearly 800 more take part in its school holiday activities each summer.
The charity also produces professional theatre shows, including the annual pantomime at Paisley Arts Centre and early years productions for children under five.
Before the move, PACE operated from two separate buildings in Paisley — an old church and a former department store.
Running both had become increasingly costly, with rising heating bills, ongoing maintenance and security costs reducing the funds available for its activities.
The Kiln offers accessible creative spaces, lift access, dedicated parking and outdoor areas for young people.
Bringing activities together is expected to lower the charity’s running costs and free up more funding for its programmes.
PACE also plans to work with local artists, community groups, charities and small businesses that might otherwise struggle to find affordable space to meet, work or develop projects.
Grant Mason, CEO at PACE Theatre Company, said: “This move would not have been possible without the support of Social Investment Scotland. As a charity, we don’t have large reserves and accessing traditional finance would have been extremely difficult.
“Some young people join PACE because they love theatre and others arrive knowing very little about it at all. What matters to us is that they have somewhere to come each week, be themselves, meet new people and benefit from a varies programme of high-quality arts experiences. Having a permanent home means we can build on that work and create even more opportunities for young people across Scotland.”
Annie Howie, Investment Manager at Social Investment Scotland, said: “PACE has always found creative ways to make the most of what it has, so it’s great to see them find a home that matches their ambition. Structuring the loan with a mortgage holiday meant they could focus on getting the building right first, rather than rushing repayments before the doors even opened.
“Just as importantly, the building will become a resource for the wider community, creating opportunities for local artists, charities and community groups to make use of the space. Accessing finance to buy a building isn’t straightforward for many charities, even when they have a proven track record of positive social impact.”
Photo: The café bar at The Kiln Creative Learning Hub in Paisley
Photo Credit: PACE Theatre Company
Photo: The creative play area at The Kiln
Photo Credit: PACE Theatre Company
Photo: The large drama studio at The Kiln
Photo Credit: PACE Theatre Company
Photo: The social space at The Kiln
Photo Credit: PACE Theatre Company