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About SCT

It is our vision that every asset within the historic built environment be permanently preserved in sustainable, productive use for the benefit of the community

SCT is dedicated to the preservation and sustainable reuse of historic and culturally significant buildings. We focus on bringing these structures back into active use, whether for short or long-term purposes, to maintain their relevance and value to the communities they serve and the wider cultural landscape in which they exist.

Our mission

We aim to empower communities to become more engaged, knowledgeable, and hands-on in preserving their local built heritage. We do this by connecting the owners or custodians — who may lack the resources, knowledge or inspiration needed for effective reuse of their buildings or sites — with other interested parties, such as skilled tradespeople, community groups, historical societies, educational institutions and statutory bodies.

 

Through these connections, we foster collaboration to overcome the challenges of rehabilitating historic sites to empower them with a meaningful purpose and continued cultural relevance. More broadly, we believe our built environment, whether recognised and protected or overlooked and unloved, plays an increasingly critical role in achieving sustainability goals within our communities.

What we do
  • Conservation and Adaptive Reuse: We help to restore and repurpose historic buildings to keep them functional and relevant. We seek to not only preserve these structures but also meet contemporary needs, contributing to their sustainability and ongoing use.

  • Community Empowerment: By hosting workshops, educational events, and community activities, we aim to and empower anyone and everyone to take an active role in heritage preservation. These activities enhance local knowledge, understanding, and appreciation for heritage.

  • Building Partnerships: SCT connects a network of interested parties engaged in collectively overcoming obstacles associated with the conservation and regeneration of heritage assets. Through these partnerships, we address the unique challenges that come with maintaining and reusing historic sites.

  • Educational Workshops and Seminars: We offer practical learning experiences in heritage skills and sustainable building practices. These events provide attendees with the tools and knowledge needed to actively maintain their heritage in a sustainable and sympathetic manner.

  • Cultural and Arts-Based Activities: We organise cultural and arts-based activities to generate interest in heritage buildings and provide a foundation for their reuse. These activities attract public attention and engagement, creating new opportunities for the adaptive reuse of historic sites.

  • Advocating for Sustainable Reuse: We promote the sustainable reuse of buildings, emphasising the importance of retaining embodied energy and reducing the need for new construction. This approach aligns with our commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility

Director

Deniz Beck

Director

Catherine Bradshaw

Director

Mark Goulding

Mark graduated from the University of Reading with a first class honours degree in 1992 having completed his dissertation on the “Viability of Earth Sheltered Housing” born out of Marks’s concern for the way development swallows up swathes of land. He has always had a passion for the built environment and sustainability. Mark met Deniz beck through a mutual friend in the summer of 2023 and sparks flew with the alignment of their mutual interests. Shortly after, Mark became an active volunteer in SCT and has since become a Director of the board.

Director

Walter Menteth

Director

Milena Metalkova-Markova

Gail Baird

Project Manager

Chris Underwood

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Samuel Brooks

Project & Development Support Lead

Adetoun Adetoyi

Social Media Manager

Rosie Penlington

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Uchenna Anoliefo

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Tarek Teba

Research Lead

Soudabeh Pashaei

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Who we work with

Collaborating with a diverse array of organisations, SCT fosters meaningful connections to achieve its mission, from local authorities and statutory bodies to cultural institutions and community interest groups. Together, we work tirelessly to bring new life into neglected spaces, enriching communities and preserving our shared cultural heritage for generations to come.

Arts Council England
Gosport Borough Council
Crying Out Loud
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Gosport Heritage Action Zone
University of Portsmouth
Portsmouth City Council
Historic England
City Arts
English Heritage
Ankle Deep
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