🌳 The Acorn Guild: Founders Programme

Phase 1: Securing the Purchase of The Oak, Cheadle

Welcome to The Acorn Guild—the founding financial membership of The Oak Project. This is a heritage-led, community-driven initiative to purchase and protect Cheadle’s Grade II listed coaching inn.

Guild Members are the people who make the rebirth of The Oak possible. Your pledge directly supports Phase 1: purchasing the building. (Phase 2 restoration will be funded mostly through grants and community commitments, and Phase 3 will introduce community shares through a Community Benefit Society).

Becoming part of The Acorn Guild means joining a legacy of preservation, community empowerment, and inclusive opportunity.

🌿 Why Your Support Matters

The Oak is a landmark building with centuries of history. Without intervention, it risks permanent loss. The Acorn Guild provides the essential financial foundation to:

Secure the building for community ownership.
Protect a Grade II listed heritage asset.
Create supported employment for autistic adults.
Build a future where heritage and community thrive together.

Your pledge is a legacy act—one that will be remembered inside the building forever.

🌰 Acorn Guild Membership Levels

Acorn Guild Supporter

Pledge: £25 – £249 The first roots of the movement.

Name on the Digital Acorn Guild Roll
Digital Acorn Guild Certificate
Invitation to the Founders Preview Event
Access to Guild updates via an email newsletter

➔ Make your Supporter Pledge on Zeffy Go

Acorn Guild Seed Founder

Pledge: £250 – £499 Supporters who step up and help secure the building.

All Supporter benefits, PLUS:
Acorn Guild Pin Badge
Name on the Acorn Guild Wall inside the building
Priority access to launch events
Invitation to a Guild Hard-Hat Tour

➔ Make your Seed Founder Pledge on Zeffy Go

Acorn Guild Root Founder

Pledge: £500 – £2,499 Major early supporters who anchor the project.

All Seed Founder benefits, PLUS:
Name engraved on the Guild Roots Panel
Personal thank-you message from the project lead
Reserved seating at the launch event
Recognition in one Acorn Guild Spotlight post

➔ Make your Root Founder Pledge on Zeffy Go

Acorn Guild Branch Founder

Pledge: £2,500 – £4,999 Donors who shape the building’s future.

All Root Founder benefits, PLUS:
Name a heritage feature, such as a Window, Beam, Doorway, Fireplace, or Architectural detail
VIP access to all preview events
Invitation to heritage events

➔ Make your Branch Founder Pledge on Zeffy Go

Acorn Guild Canopy Founder

Pledge: £5,000 – £9,999 Major donors who anchor the project financially.

All Branch Founder benefits, PLUS:
Name a restored heritage element (windows, doors, ironwork etc.)
Dedicated feature in press and social media
VIP tour with project lead

➔ Make your Canopy Founder Pledge on Zeffy Go

Acorn Guild Great Oak Founder

Pledge: £10,000+ Transformational donors who make the purchase possible.

All Canopy Founder benefits, PLUS:
Major naming opportunity for a non-commercial heritage space
Seat on the Acorn Guild Strategic Advisory Circle
Bespoke plaque + heritage interpretation panel
Lifetime VIP access to events
Option to sponsor a programme (autism employment, heritage skills, pantry partnership)

➔ Make your Great Oak Founder Pledge on Zeffy Go

🌟 How to Join

Choose your Guild level from the options above.
Make your pledge through our secure Zeffy Go platform (which ensures 100% of your donation goes directly to the project with no platform fees).
Receive your digital certificate and welcome pack once we hit our milestone amount.

Your commitment today plants the acorn that becomes tomorrow’s Oak. Thank you for helping us secure, restore, and reopen this historic building as a thriving community hub.

The Oak Project | Cheadle, Staffordshire Heritage. Community. Inclusion.