For funders and partners

Business plan 2026–27

How Luton Fitness Park CIC will deliver a free outdoor fitness park this year. The public evidence sits in the proposal; this page is the plan we would attach to a bid.

Talk to us about funding Read the proposal

1. Executive summary

Organisation: Luton Fitness Park CIC, company number 17271021. Registered 9 June 2026.
Mission: A free, inclusive outdoor fitness park in Luton where people belong and connect through movement.
Vision: A town with welcoming outdoor training space that is always open: for physical health, mental health, and safer streets.
What we do: We are a community-led Community Interest Company campaigning for Luton’s first purpose-built inclusive outdoor fitness park. Until a site is agreed, the work is research, a verified local petition, council engagement, design, and fundraising.
Goals for the year: Agree a preferred park location with Luton Borough Council
Complete feasibility and secure planning permission and council support
Submit the first grant and community funding applications
Reach 2,135 valid petition signatures so the council must debate the petition in full council
Funding: Volunteer-run. No capital budget is published until a site is agreed. Construction will not start until funding is secured.
Contact: lutonfitnesspark@gmail.com

2. Strategic objectives

Long-term aims. This year's business plan is year one of that strategy.

Strategic objective
A free outdoor fitness park that anyone in Luton can use, with no membership barrier.
Year 1 goal
Agree a site with the council, complete feasibility, and raise capital funding for the first park.
Strategic objective
Inclusive by design: disabled athletes and newcomers can train alongside everyone else.
Year 1 goal
Keep Para Workout equipment, inspired by the Matt Hampson Foundation, in the design and in every funding bid.
Strategic objective
A third space that supports safer streets and gives young people a positive place to show up.
Year 1 goal
Keep council, youth, and community partners in the conversation, and design for activity and footfall rather than a neglected corner.
Strategic objective
Shared prevention: everyday movement that can ease pressure on physical health, mental health, and the NHS over time.
Year 1 goal
Use the public proposal and theory of change in every bid, and do not over-claim clinical outcomes.

Strategic objective	Year 1 goal
A free outdoor fitness park that anyone in Luton can use, with no membership barrier.	Agree a site with the council, complete feasibility, and raise capital funding for the first park.
Inclusive by design: disabled athletes and newcomers can train alongside everyone else.	Keep Para Workout equipment, inspired by the Matt Hampson Foundation, in the design and in every funding bid.
A third space that supports safer streets and gives young people a positive place to show up.	Keep council, youth, and community partners in the conversation, and design for activity and footfall rather than a neglected corner.
Shared prevention: everyday movement that can ease pressure on physical health, mental health, and the NHS over time.	Use the public proposal and theory of change in every bid, and do not over-claim clinical outcomes.

3. Operational objectives

What has to work this year so the organisation stays well run while we chase the site and the money.

Area
Fundraising
Objective
Submit the first round of trust, foundation, and community funding bids once a site is in view.
Area
Facilities
Objective
Agree a preferred location from the council’s list, then complete feasibility and planning. Stay open to any central, accessible site the council offers.
Area
People
Objective
Keep a small core team covering community, governance, strategy, and operations, and recruit volunteers for outreach, events, and content.
Area
Finance
Objective
Stay CIC-compliant, keep spending light while we are volunteer-run, and produce a detailed capital budget as soon as a site is agreed.
Area
Services
Objective
Grow verified local petition support, keep the website and campaign materials current, and stay in public conversation with residents.
Area
Governance
Objective
Meet CIC duties, keep the community interest locked in, and report progress in the open.

Area	Objective
Fundraising	Submit the first round of trust, foundation, and community funding bids once a site is in view.
Facilities	Agree a preferred location from the council’s list, then complete feasibility and planning. Stay open to any central, accessible site the council offers.
People	Keep a small core team covering community, governance, strategy, and operations, and recruit volunteers for outreach, events, and content.
Finance	Stay CIC-compliant, keep spending light while we are volunteer-run, and produce a detailed capital budget as soon as a site is agreed.
Services	Grow verified local petition support, keep the website and campaign materials current, and stay in public conversation with residents.
Governance	Meet CIC duties, keep the community interest locked in, and report progress in the open.

4. Key performance indicators

A short set of measures we can actually watch. Quantity, time, quality, and cost — not everything that could be counted.

Area
Quantity
Target
2,135 valid petition signatures
How we measure
On-site petition count
Who
Ash, Tan
When
This year
Notes
Luton Borough Council must debate the petition in full council at this threshold. The campaign has already passed 500 signatures.
Area
Time
Target
Preferred site agreed with the council
How we measure
Written confirmation of location options and a preferred site
Who
Ash
When
Phase 5
Notes
Land rights, not cost, were the main hurdle in the first council meeting. We will not lock a design until the site is real.
Area
Quantity
Target
First grant applications submitted
How we measure
Bids logged (number, amount asked, outcome)
Who
Afsar
When
After a site is in view
Notes
Bids need a location and a budget. We will not send speculative capital asks without them.
Area
Quality
Target
Inclusive design retained in every version of the plan
How we measure
Equipment list and bid narrative include accessible kit
Who
Ash, Afsar
When
Ongoing
Notes
Para Workout equipment is a core requirement, not an optional extra.
Area
Cost
Target
Detailed capital budget published once a site is agreed
How we measure
Annex budget covering equipment, surfacing, install, and contingency
Who
Tan, Afsar
When
After feasibility
Notes
No headline cost is published yet. Inventing one would weaken bids.
Area
Time
Target
CIC records and public updates kept current
How we measure
Companies House filings; news posts after each milestone
Who
Callum, Tan
When
Ongoing
Notes
Accountability is part of the product, not an afterthought.

Area	Target	How we measure	Who	When
Quantity	2,135 valid petition signatures	On-site petition count	Ash, Tan	This year
Time	Preferred site agreed with the council	Written confirmation of location options and a preferred site	Ash	Phase 5
Quantity	First grant applications submitted	Bids logged (number, amount asked, outcome)	Afsar	After a site is in view
Quality	Inclusive design retained in every version of the plan	Equipment list and bid narrative include accessible kit	Ash, Afsar	Ongoing
Cost	Detailed capital budget published once a site is agreed	Annex budget covering equipment, surfacing, install, and contingency	Tan, Afsar	After feasibility
Time	CIC records and public updates kept current	Companies House filings; news posts after each milestone	Callum, Tan	Ongoing

2,135 valid petition signatures. Luton Borough Council must debate the petition in full council at this threshold. The campaign has already passed 500 signatures.
Preferred site agreed with the council. Land rights, not cost, were the main hurdle in the first council meeting. We will not lock a design until the site is real.
First grant applications submitted. Bids need a location and a budget. We will not send speculative capital asks without them.
Inclusive design retained in every version of the plan. Para Workout equipment is a core requirement, not an optional extra.
Detailed capital budget published once a site is agreed. No headline cost is published yet. Inventing one would weaken bids.
CIC records and public updates kept current. Accountability is part of the product, not an afterthought.

5. Finance

We will not invent a capital figure before we have a site. In the first council meeting, land rights were the main hurdle, not cost. A detailed income and expenditure annex will follow feasibility.

Category
Capital — build
What it covers
Fitness equipment, inclusive / Para Workout kit, surfacing, installation, signage and QR codes, knife bin, memorial or community features.
Category
Revenue — keep it open
What it covers
Maintenance, repairs, insurance, volunteer coordination, and any hosted sessions or competitions once the park exists.
Category
In-kind
What it covers
Council land and permissions, volunteer time, local business support, and campaign tools we already run (website, petition, brand).

Category	What it covers
Capital — build	Fitness equipment, inclusive / Para Workout kit, surfacing, installation, signage and QR codes, knife bin, memorial or community features.
Revenue — keep it open	Maintenance, repairs, insurance, volunteer coordination, and any hosted sessions or competitions once the park exists.
In-kind	Council land and permissions, volunteer time, local business support, and campaign tools we already run (website, petition, brand).

Income we will pursue

Trust and foundation grants
Community and small-charity funds
Local business and CSR support
Council partnership (land, permissions, in-kind)
Community fundraising

Contingency: do not let a contract, or start construction, until funding for that phase is in place. If income falls short, we scale the first site rather than open a gap in the budget.

6. Risk

The risks we already know, and what we will do so none of them stays unacceptably high.

Area
Site
Risk
An early option, Moor Park, may have land-use restrictions from historic cricket-pitch use, so the first site may need to be elsewhere.
Mitigation
Wait for the council’s location list. Stay open to People’s Park or another central site. Do not spend capital until location and permissions are clear.
Area
Funding
Risk
Grant income is uncertain. A shortfall would delay construction.
Mitigation
Do not start build until funding is secured. Diversify bids. Scale the first site rather than over-promise.
Area
People
Risk
A small volunteer team can burn out or lose capacity.
Mitigation
Clear roles, open volunteer roles, and do not take on delivery we cannot staff.
Area
Perception
Risk
Residents may worry the park will attract antisocial behaviour or vandalism.
Mitigation
Design for footfall and activity. Use galvanised steel kit. Publish a maintenance plan. Answer concerns in the open (FAQ).
Area
Compliance
Risk
CIC, data protection, and bidding duties if records slip.
Mitigation
Governance lead, privacy policy, and public reporting. Keep petition data handling tight.

Area	Risk	Mitigation
Site	An early option, Moor Park, may have land-use restrictions from historic cricket-pitch use, so the first site may need to be elsewhere.	Wait for the council’s location list. Stay open to People’s Park or another central site. Do not spend capital until location and permissions are clear.
Funding	Grant income is uncertain. A shortfall would delay construction.	Do not start build until funding is secured. Diversify bids. Scale the first site rather than over-promise.
People	A small volunteer team can burn out or lose capacity.	Clear roles, open volunteer roles, and do not take on delivery we cannot staff.
Perception	Residents may worry the park will attract antisocial behaviour or vandalism.	Design for footfall and activity. Use galvanised steel kit. Publish a maintenance plan. Answer concerns in the open (FAQ).
Compliance	CIC, data protection, and bidding duties if records slip.	Governance lead, privacy policy, and public reporting. Keep petition data handling tight.

7. Monitoring and evaluation

Reports should be short enough to act on. We will watch the handful of KPIs above and change course if a target slips.

Monthly core-team check-ins against Phase 5 (location and funding).
Petition count watched against the full-council threshold.
Public news posts after each milestone.
Council and partner meetings minuted and followed up.
Once the park exists: usage, maintenance logs, beneficiary and partner feedback, and an annual impact note.

8. Related documents

Use these with this plan. Do not treat this page as a substitute for the public case or the logic model.

Structure adapted from the Charity Excellence CIC and charity business plan template. We have filled only what we can stand behind today.