The Arcade Group
In the heart of Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, the Arcade Group is bringing new life to a historic Victorian shopping arcade. The Arcade Group has brought the building back into use as the UK’s first community-run shopping centre, creating opportunities for independent businesses and community activity in the town centre.
The community benefit society was established to take on the empty Arcade from Kirklees Council and give it a sustainable future, and its ambition goes beyond filling vacant retail units. The Group is creating a place worth visiting in its own right: a mix of independent shops selling jewellery, art, perfume and cakes, alongside studios and space for events.
Building the foundations for community investment
Bringing this vision to life required careful planning, fundraising and community engagement. In November 2022, the Arcade Group received over £12,000 from the Reach Fund to support accountancy work, lease preparation, community engagement and marketing for its community share offer.
With support from the Reach grant and their Access Point, Crowdfunder, the Group developed its business plan and prepared to raise further investment. In 2023, its community share offer raised £127,000 from 208 investors, giving members of the community a direct stake in the Arcade’s future.
The Group particularly valued the flexibility of the Reach Fund which enabled it to progress financial and legal preparations alongside the community engagement needed to build support for the project. It highlighted the importance of early-stage funding in helping community businesses navigate the planning and fundraising required to turn a big idea into a viable enterprise.
A new chapter for Dewsbury town centre
The Arcade reopened in September 2026, marking a significant milestone for the Group and for Dewsbury.
The refurbishment forms part of the Council’s wider ambition to rejuvenate the town centre. The Arcade offers a distinctive contribution to that effort: a historic building brought back into use through community ownership, with independent retail and creative spaces designed to attract visitors and encourage people to spend time in the town.
As a community benefit society, the Arcade Group is committed to reinvesting profits in the business, helping secure its long-term future for the benefit of local people. The reopening is the beginning of the next stage of that work. By combining community investment with a clear vision for independent retail and social activity, the Arcade Group is working to create a sustainable community asset – and help give Dewsbury town centre a renewed sense of purpose.
Find out more about the Reach Fund: Reach Fund – Social Investment Business