Space for
clubs and community groups

Ideas and how to set them up

Sports club kit store

Goals, nets, balls, cones, bibs, first aid kits and match kit for junior football, rugby, cricket or netball clubs. One place for kit means less chasing round on match day. Clubs often find it easier to grow once the kit has a proper home.

Best unit

150 sq ft · roller shutter · £65 a week or 180 sq ft · roller shutter · £78 a week

Layout

Nets and portable goals in a rack by the shutter, balls in mesh bags on hooks, kit in labelled crates by team, and a shelf for first aid. Put a list of every team's kit on the wall. Colour-coded crates for each age group stop kit drifting between teams over the season.

Good to know

Let kit dry fully before it goes back in, or the unit will smell by spring. Choose a named person to look after the key and the check-out list.

Scout, guide and youth group camping kit

Patrol tents, groundsheets, cooking kit, tables, lanterns, ropes and activity equipment for scout, guide and youth groups. A dry unit helps canvas and kit last longer. Leaders can collect kit for weekend camps without relying on one person's garage.

Best unit

180 sq ft · roller shutter · £78 a week or 300 sq ft · two storeys with upstairs office · £130 a week

Layout

Tents bagged and labelled on deep shelving, poles in a long rack, activity kit in crates, and a drying area near the shutter after camp. Keep a kit list for each camp. Store small items such as mallets, pegs and lanterns in clear tubs so leaders can see at a glance what is missing.

Good to know

Gas cylinders and camping gas cannot be stored in the unit unless we have agreed it in writing, so keep stoves without their gas. Dry tents fully before storing them.

Amateur dramatics props and scenery

Flats, props, costumes, furniture and set pieces for drama groups, panto societies and school productions. Blackpool has a strong theatre tradition, and kit builds up quickly. Shared rails and labelled boxes also make it easy to lend kit to other groups.

Best unit

180 sq ft · roller shutter · £78 a week or 300 sq ft · two storeys with upstairs office · £130 a week

Layout

Scenery flats standing upright in racks, costumes on rails in garment bags, props in boxes labelled by production, and furniture covered at the back. The upstairs of a two-storey unit works well for costumes. A rail of costumes sorted by size saves hours at casting and dress rehearsals.

Good to know

Paint scenery with water-based paints only. Keep a photo index of props so directors can choose without opening every box.

Band and PA equipment storage

Drums, amplifiers, PA speakers, stands and cables for bands, choirs and community music groups that play in different venues. Flight cases stack well in a small unit. It keeps expensive equipment out of members' cars and homes between gigs.

Best unit

150 sq ft · roller shutter · £65 a week or 160 sq ft · security door · £69 a week

Layout

Heavy amps and speakers low down, drums in cases on a shelf, and cables coiled in labelled crates. Keep a test bench with sockets for checking kit before a gig. Mark each case with the band's name and a contact number in case anything goes astray at a venue.

Good to know

Ask us before using the unit for rehearsals, because sound carries in a shared building. Storage and kit maintenance are the easy part.

Charity donations sorting

Sorting donated clothes, books, toys and homeware for a charity shop, appeal or community swap. A unit keeps donations dry and organised before they go out. Volunteers can work in shifts, with 24-hour access fitting around their jobs.

Best unit

180 sq ft · roller shutter · £78 a week or 300 sq ft · two storeys with upstairs office · £130 a week

Layout

An intake area by the shutter, sorting tables in the middle, and shelving for sorted stock by type. Keep a clear area for bags going to recycling so they do not build up. Labelled bags for each type of donation make the next sorting session far quicker for volunteers.

Good to know

Check donations as they come in. Aerosols in quantity, paint, fuel and gas bottles cannot be stored, and cooked or fresh food is not allowed.

Hobby club room

A base for a model railway, wargaming, board game or radio club where members can leave layouts and projects set up. Members can meet at the unit, with shared toilets and a tea and coffee room on site. Having a permanent room is often what keeps a club going year after year.

Best unit

160 sq ft · security door · £69 a week or 300 sq ft · two storeys with upstairs office · £130 a week

Layout

Layouts or gaming tables in the centre, storage around the edges, and a bench with good lighting for modelling. In the two-storey unit, use the upstairs room with a window for meetings. Folding tables and stackable chairs mean you can clear the floor when you need room for a bigger meeting.

Good to know

Tell us how many people you expect at a session so we can check it suits the space. Ask before fixing anything to the walls.

Why our units suit clubs & community groups

• Sports kit, tents, props, costumes and instruments are low-risk to store, and every unit has lighting and electricity already connected.
• 24-hour access suits volunteers who can only collect kit before work, after training or at weekends.
• Rolling monthly terms with one month's notice suit groups that need to keep costs predictable and might change plans at the AGM. A short note on the wall with the group's contact details helps if anything needs sorting.
• Lighting, standard single-phase electricity and Wi-Fi are already connected in every unit (there is no three-phase power), with 24-hour access, free CCTV app access covering the entrance and the area outside the units, and shared facilities.

Start-up checklist

1. Decide which unit suits your stock, machines and how you will load and unload.
2. Message us with what your business does, so we can approve the use before you commit.
3. Register your business with HMRC as a sole trader or limited company if you have not already.
4. Speak to an insurance broker about public liability, contents and stock cover, and employers' liability if you have staff.
5. Ask us whether business rates apply, and check Small Business Rate Relief on GOV.UK.
6. Plan your layout: shelving up the walls, benches near sockets, and a clear route to the door.
7. Arrange one month's rent, the deposit, photo ID and a Direct Debit mandate for move-in day.

Questions

Prices are subject to availability. Minimum rental term: one month, then one month’s notice to leave. Swap to a bigger or smaller unit any time, subject to availability. Electricity usage is charged separately at the supplier rate, with no markup. This guide is general information, not legal, insurance or tax advice.

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