Lapford Mill Extending CIC

Lapford · Devon · Community Interest Company

Lapford Mill – Extended CIC

A social enterprise rooted in heritage, nature, community, and the arts

Heritage · Environment · Arts & Music · Community Wellbeing · Enterprise

Our Vision

“Lapford Mill exists to preserve and share historic heritage, care for the natural environment, and foster community wellbeing and cultural participation through education, arts, and sustainable enterprise.”

What is Lapford Mill

A historic Victorian watermill in mid-Devon — home to the LMSR 7¼ gage model heritage railway, river and woodland habitats, live music, theatre, café, and a growing community of volunteers.

The extended CIC goes beyond the heritage railway to become the community-facing organisation that brings it all together under a single, mission-led structure.

Unlike a single-purpose charity, Lapford Mill extended CIC is an integrated social enterprise — where heritage, environment, arts, and community are woven together, and where every penny of trading surplus is reinvested in mission.

At a Glance

13+

Volunteers

5

Mission spheres

7¼”

Heritage railway

5yr

Growth roadmap

Legal structure: Community Interest Company · company limited by guarantee · asset-locked · operating under licence from the landowner · three-director board including an independent community representative.

The Five Mission Spheres

Every activity maps to one or more interlocking spheres. The model generates compounding value — a single event can simultaneously advance heritage, community, and enterprise goals.

The Three-Lens Decision Test

Every proposal must pass all three lenses before board approval.

1

Mission lens

“Does this advance heritage, environment, community, or cultural objectives?”

2

Sustainability lens

“Will this support our long-term financial viability?”

3

Authenticity lens

“Is this consistent with Lapford Mill’s character and story?”

Legal Structure

Lapford Mill CIC
Asset-locked Community Interest Company

Operating Licence
from landowner

Asset Lock
surplus reinvested

Five-Year Growth Roadmap

Sphere	Year 1 — Foundation	Years 2–3 — Growth	Years 4–5 — Scale
Heritage	Railway rides from Easter, guided tours, interpretation panels	School visits, archive projects, heritage open days	Mill restoration demos, major heritage events programme
Environment	Woodland management, river clean-ups, volunteer conservation days	Habitat restoration, ecology walks, biodiversity monitoring	Citizen science, school-led projects, expanded interpretation trail
Arts & Music	Open Music Nights, small theatre events, local artist showcases	Ticketed performances, workshops, seasonal mini-festivals	Annual arts & heritage festival, cultural residencies
Community	Café, volunteering programme, social events	Wellbeing programmes, social prescribing partnerships	Community-led events, integrated programming
Enterprise	Café trading, railway tickets, ticketed arts events	Seasonal events, local supplier partnerships, café expansion	Annual festival, expanded enterprise offer, enterprise innovations

Partnerships & Funding

Strategic Partners

Tier 1

Devon Wildlife Trust
Devon County Council
NHS Devon — Social Prescribing

Programme Partners

Tier 2

Local schools
Tarka Trail
Arts Council England SW
Devon & Cornwall Rail

Immediate grant pipeline

Funders

National Lottery Awards for All
Devon Community Foundation
Viridor Credits
Environment Agency

Network memberships

Year 1 priority

Social Enterprise UK
Heritage Alliance · NCVO
Power to Change

Who Benefits

Jake, 7 — heritage sparks wonder

A school visit to the mill and railway ignites a lifelong curiosity about engineering and history.

HeritageEducation

Margaret, 71 — community after loss

A recently widowed newcomer to Lapford finds belonging through Music Night and volunteers by summer.

ArtsWellbeingVolunteering

Reuben, 34 — a musician finds a stage

A Crediton songwriter plays his first real rural gig and connects with an audience he couldn’t reach alone.

Arts & MusicEnterprise

David, 52 — confidence restored

Made redundant, the railway gives him purpose, practical skills, and a community who values what he can do.

CommunitySkillsConfidence

“Lapford Mill CIC is not a heritage railway with community benefit bolted on. It is an integrated social enterprise in which heritage, environment, arts, community, and sustainable trading are woven into a single, purposeful whole.”