ōH just turned 6 months!

To celebrate we have launched three new initiatives.

Read our manifesto here:

ōH Chester Design Foundation is a newly formed community interest company social enterprise committed to supporting the growth and development of the creative industries in Chester.

At the heart of the ōH programme are mentors sharing skills, and experience, supporting our creatives to take positive next steps to start-up or scale-up..

Our objectives are clear: to champion local talent, empower growth and drive positive change so that a sustainable place on Chester’s high street is a genuine reality and migrating to Liverpool, Manchester or London to progress is optional – not conditional.

We invite you to get involved – by donating money, services or your time, alongside other supporters such as Chester Race Company, Cheshire West and Chester Council and the University of Chester – in what we believe is a unique opportunity to make a positive impact, fuelling the city’s economy, culture and society.

Would you like to know more? Have a look at our prospectus below…

Donate today! Your small donation can help us make a big difference…

HOW WE’RE FUNDED & REGULATED

Community Interest Companies (CICs) are specifically identified with social enterprise and are typically set up by entrepreneurs who want to do good in a form other than charity.

oH: Chester Design Foundation is registered with Companies House and has satisfied a Community Interest Test to show that its primary purpose is to provide benefits to the community, rather than the individuals, who own, run or work for the organisation.

An annual Community Interest Report is submitted to the CIC Regulator.

A CIC is designed to trade, whereas charities can only trade in certain circumstances. And so, because trading through the ōH Concept Store is integral to the Foundation programme, that’s the reason why we chose to be a CIC, rather than a charity.

There are pros and cons to that – the main downside being that CICs don’t get any tax breaks – so we have to pay corporation tax at 25% on income and don’t qualify for GiftAid on donations made.

As well as paying for equipment and training we also need to meet the day-to-day costs of keeping open the oH Concept Store and atelier space with staff, heating and lighting.

And so, every penny we receive really does count…

Donate

Partners & sponsors enquiry:

Designers, makers & artists enquiry:

Please email your CV & selection of works to contact@ohfoundation.uk

Please note: The full intake programme will be launching in January 2024.

Thank you to our partners: