Great Western Coffee Shop

I'm looking at a community (rail) project this evening and going along to help add a practical view to make sure there's the best possible chance of success.    What should I ask the project proposers?

1. What's the purpose?
2. Who will do it?
3. How long will it last?
4. How will it be updated / maintained?
5. Will in be vandal proof?
6. Will in be disabled friendly?
7. Will it be safe / give a safe message?
8. Who will pay for it to be done?
9. Who will pay for its upkeep?
10. Who will do the admin?

I suspect all of these can be answered ... but they probably need to have been asked!

Have I missed anything?

I can't think of anything to add but would observe that 3, 4, 9 and 10 are often not given enough weight in the general turmult  to get the project started

We seem quite good at getting worhtwhile projects off the ground but then find there is lack of money to keep them going. Also maintenance is the first thing to be cut when budgets are squeezed.

I'd ask for information about how the group knows the project is needed.

What evidence of need is there? Has there been a public consultation? Has a petition been raised?

And if money is going to be donated in order to enable the project to happen, how will the success of the project be measured? How will you prove to people who have donated funds that through their action they've enabled something to happen which has enriched people's lives?

In tidying up / moving threads around, I came across this thread ... looked back and noted that it failed to materialise based on item (10) - no-one had the time to do the admin and take the lead; at times, volunteers can be found, but organisers and administrators can be rare as hen's teeth!

The project still languishes on the "it would be nice if" list.  And I could define purpose which moves it rather up and above just "nice if".

Paul Webster at ACORP is the guy they need to consult - he'll give his time freely & readily ID any hoops they stuill need to jump through