Altrincham Town Hall is looking for its first 500 Community Shareholders - and those who sign up will have their names permanently displayed inside one of the town's most historic buildings.
The initiative, dubbed the Alty 500, has been launched by Oyez Arts, the charitable Community Benefit Society that has transformed the Town Hall since taking it on 18 months ago.
Back then, the building was cold, draughty and largely unused. Today, 21 community groups use it every week, hundreds of people pass through its doors, and last month Oyez Arts signed a 25-year lease with Trafford Council - securing the historic building for the community for a generation to come.
Now Oyez Arts is inviting local people to become part of that story - and to leave a permanent mark on it.
The first 500 people to buy a Community Share will have their names displayed inside the Town Hall, a lasting and visible connection to the building that dates back to 1899. It is a chance to be woven into the fabric of a place that has already meant so much to so many people across the years - and will continue to do so for decades ahead.
A single Community Share starts from £100, with the option to spread the cost across 10 monthly instalments of £10, making it accessible to as many people as possible.
Every Community Shareholder becomes a full member of Oyez Arts with an equal vote at its Annual General Meeting - one share, one voice, regardless of how much you have contributed. There are no bigger or smaller voices here. Every member counts the same.
That membership carries real practical weight, too. The more community backing Oyez Arts has behind it, the stronger its case becomes when applying for the grants and external funding that will support the Town Hall's long-term restoration and sustainability. Every name on the membership list sends a clear signal to funders that Altrincham genuinely cares about this place.
So where will the money go? Founding director Jo Cushing explains: "We are already thriving - the 25-year lease is proof of that - but the building itself needs investment.
“Ageing and broken equipment needs replacing, and we need proper storage space for the many groups and classes that use the hall throughout the week. We also need the right kit to move heavy equipment safely.
“And the internal restoration of this stunning 124-year-old building - with its oak panelling, stained glass and soaring ceilings - needs to begin in earnest."
She says it is a “massive opportunity for everyone in Altrincham".
"It is the last remaining community heritage building in the town - a happy space for creative connection, ideas, participation and engagement."
Trafford Council leader Cllr Tom Ross has backed the drive, describing the Town Hall as "the historic heart of the town" and expressing confidence that Oyez Arts will ensure it thrives as "a much-loved hive of activity and creativity" for years to come.
For those not ready to buy a Community Share, there are other ways to show support. Donations are welcome and may qualify for Gift Aid. Hiring one of the Town Hall's beautiful rooms for a meeting, celebration or private event also goes directly towards keeping the building running.
But if you want your name on the wall of a building that will be at the heart of Altrincham life for the next quarter of a century, now is the time to act.
For more information about the Alty 500, visit oyezarts.org/invest.
