Creating a new building for children and young people   NEW BUILDINGS FOR CHILDREN Working with multi-agency teams to deliver building projects for children. SmithMartin can help you to deliver the project from concept to opening the doors. The expectation that by 2008 there will be 2500 Sure Start Children's Centres across England is fantastic news for children, families and communities. What an opportunity for Local Authorities and Children's Services teams to develop effective community resources  bringing together services for children under five and their families. But, it brings with it a certain sense of panic; how to actually deliver these projects that will be just what the community needs and on time. Large amounts of capital expenditure are available and the necessity that this money is spent wisely and effectively to create a visionary centre for the future is both incredibly exciting but can also be daunting. With a positive mind set, a committed team of professionals, involvement of the local community and a pragmatic set of working plans the project can be set under way. Useful interent links: Organisations such as Sure Start and CABE have produced documents which are very useful guides to both setting up, design and process, details:- www.surestart.gov.uk/publications Buildings for Sure Start Capital Process for Children's Centre Guidance Children's Centre Implementation Plan www.cabe.org.uk  Building for Sure Start-Integrated Services for Children -10 Top Tips There is a huge need for management of the project, Local Authority Children's Services teams have the option of either using their own staff or commissioning the work to outside agencies. Below is a summary of ways that can help you achieve your vision, by not only using the funding windows available, but actually making it happen. SmithMartin can help you to achieve your vision. WWW SmithMartin website The Planning Stage: Combined team of professionals, including architects, community users,children's workforce professionals, construction managers, finance management. Creation of a design brief. Creation of design teams. Ensure that the voice of the users are heard, either through consultation or professional children's service workers. This will be essential when it comes to the delivery of the project. Leave plenty of time for the planning, it will be easier to get it right at the beginning. Allow a programme for changes near to completion, to ensure that your building is fit for purpose. Large retail companies allow at least 10% of the original budget for this. Go for the best you can within the budget. Create timed action plans, which are critical. The Construction Process: The first bricks/foundations are a real joy. Start marketing now. Ensure that someone is responsible for keeping check on the buildings progress. Timing is crucial and need to be monitored.(These may seem obvious but slippage is easy to achieve and hard to catch up). Bring in help around delivery of an effective marketing programme. Ordering equipment and resources should be in hand but make sure they still meet requirements. Maintain constant dialogue with community and user groups. Make sure that inspecting agencies(Ofsted) are involved and aware of opening dates. Don't lose sight of the vision. The Point of Completion: Receiving possession date of the building from the contractor is a major process. Opening the doors for the community and to deliver on time is really important.(Construction companies are used to having  to pay penalties for late delivery). Children will already be booked into the facilities and these will need to be inspected before use. Snagging issues for the building need to be constantly checked and ensure that they are completed satisfactorily before the construction firm moves off site. Is the building still 'fit for purpose'. Consider using the budget for adjustment. New staff will have been employed, what challenges do they find? Don't lose sight of the vision. Achievement and Celebration: When it is actually finished, take time to look at what has been achieved. Once children and families start to use the building it will come alive and that is when the real work will begin. The building is essentially just the shell, but it should create... a real 'wow' feel. a place people will  want to come to. a place where they will want their children to be. Above all:- Stay enthusiastic. Keep sight of the vision. Go for the best you can. SmithMartin and their associates can help you to deliver your building project. Our projects section has information on recent building and change management projects.