Do you have ideas for the best charitable use of Highbury Hall and the trust land?

Highbury Hall in Birmingham by ringsofsaturnrock on flickr (click on picture for original)

The Friends of Highbury Park in Moseley/Kings Heath have highlighted (in their January newsletter), that Highbury Trust is looking for proposal for new charitable uses for the land and buildings left by the Chamberlain family.

Birmingham City Council issued this public notice on 22.01.10:

The Council, as Sole Trustee of the Highbury Trust is looking to identify how charitable activity can be maximised at Highbury to satisfy the objects of the trust together with the commercial opportunities that can be developed in order to finance and sustain the charity into the future. The Council is currently using part of Highbury Hall as a successful conference and events centre. Initial proposals and expressions of interest from individuals and /or organisations are requested to be submitted by 15th February and proposers will be invited to make a short initial presentation to a public meeting at the Banqueting Suite, Council House, on 24th February at 7pm.

Please reply by 15th February to: David Tatlow, Director of Legal Services,Birmingham City Council,
Ingleby House, 11-14 Cannon Street,
Birmingham, B2 5EN.

They go on to say that:

HPF and the consortium of local groups who have worked consistently to raise the issue of the
Highbury Trust will respond, and will attend the meeting. Their response will note that no mention is made of revised governance. Do send in yourcomments and attend the meeting if you can.

What about you?  Any ideas?

For inspiration there are some fine images in Highbury here and for more on Joseph Chamberlain this book by a Birmingham academic is useful (it’s pricey, buy the 2nd hand one!) and wikipedia has this comprehensive outline of his career.

Highbury Hall in the snow by Ell Brown on flickr (click for original)