The grand opening of The Old Eight Bells in Mansfield captured the attention of local and regional media last month, celebrating how a once-derelict building has been transformed into new supported homes for people with learning disabilities and autism.

The event, hosted by Resonance’s Supported Homes Fund in partnership with United Response, generated over twenty pieces of positive media coverage, showcasing the power of social impact investment to change lives and communities.

Highlights included:

• A feature on BBC East Midlands Today, spotlighting residents moving into their new homes – watch here
• A live BBC Radio Nottingham interview during the morning rush hour (listen here – 2hrs 10mins in)
• Coverage on BBC News Online,  UK Property Newsdesk, Business in the Midlands, and many more, each highlighting how social investment has helped bring this iconic Mansfield site back to life

Watch the opening event film, here:
 

This strong community and media response demonstrates just how much the project has resonated, not only with local people, but also with wider audiences interested in inclusive housing and regeneration.

From nightclub to new beginnings

In mid-September, Resonance and United Response proudly opened The Old Eight Bells, a brand-new supported housing development in the heart of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

Once known as Urban Cherry nightclub, the property has been completely transformed - through a £1.6 million investment from the Resonance Supported Homes Fund - into eight high-quality supported apartments for people with learning disabilities and autism.

The name The Old Eight Bells reflects the building’s long history: originally an 18th-century pub, later a bustling nightclub, and now a place that opens new doors to independence and inclusion.

Watch the short film from the grand opening, featuring tenants, their families, and guests celebrating this remarkable transformation:

Empowering independence

For Emma Louise Dodd, who has Down’s syndrome, moving into one of these new homes marks a life-changing milestone. Supported by her twin sister, Aynsley, Emma has long dreamed of living independently with the right support in place.

“It’s really important for anybody living with a disability that they feel they can live their life as independently as possible,” said Aynsley. “It’s about them feeling that they are important and that they are being heard.”

Emma’s story reflects the heart of what this project, and Resonance’s Supported Homes Fund, is all about: creating homes that empower people to live the lives they choose, safely and independently.

Breathing life back into buildings and communities

As guests toured the bright, thoughtfully designed communal spaces and a handful of tenants’ apartments during the opening, it was clear this was more than a new housing development - it marked the start of a new chapter for this historic building and for the people who will call it home.

Ben Harrison, Senior Consultant at Resonance, said: “We’re delighted to breathe new life into this historic building in the heart of Mansfield town centre. We’re proud to work with our partners to provide much-needed supported homes for members of the community.”

With United Response providing both landlord and on-site support services, tenants have access to the independence they want and the support they need to thrive.

A shared achievement

The transformation of The Old Eight Bells is Resonance’s largest refurbishment project to date - a powerful example of what can be achieved when social impact investment meets social purpose.

From a long-closed nightclub to a place of hope, connection, and community, this project stands as a model for how capital can be used to change lives, restore buildings, and strengthen local communities.

ABOUT THE RESONANCE SUPPORTED HOMES FUND