Proposed Building Works
To support our Vision of further broadening the use of the building, and over time becoming more of a community resource or ‘Community Hub’, we engaged DMS (Architects) to carry out a Feasibility Study.
From this they produced the artwork you see on the website and which was used to support a very successful Open Meeting, and became the blueprint for the detailed plans which were approved in Sept 2017.
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The architect brief included a number of key elements:
• Make the building (in particular the entrance) more welcoming, eye catching and accessible
• Improve the general facilities (particularly kitchen and toilets) - the church does not have what most people would recognise as a proper kitchen currently
• Allow people to see into to the main part of the building (where appropriate), to potentially increase interest in what’s going on inside at a particular point in time
• Increase natural lighting
• Make better use of existing space (dead space, corridor etc), and as far as practicable increase flexibility of the building
The approved plans address most of the above elements, although there were obvious limitations due to the existing layout and structure, and likely costs.
Key elements of the plans includes:
• A new Fire Exit (into Car Park), which improves overall safety and egress for people with mobility issues or wheelchairs etc.
• A large picture window in the front elevation of the church
• A new kitchen with robust commercial-style fittings
• Improved toilet facilities, including improved disabled facilities, and baby changing area
• New bi-fold screening to provide separation (when required) of the new Coffee Bar area and main church/sanctuary
• A new light and airy Entrance ‘pod’ with much improved accessibility
• Detailed changes in configuration of space to allow existing space to be better utilised
Through our Architect, we have had quotes for the main building work and most of the more specialised work (e.g. bi-folds), and an estimate for kitchen fittings, and they have also helped us come up with estimates for the items not specifically itemised e.g. lighting, furniture and fittings.
The total cost is projected to be £229K (excluding professional fees and contingency costs, which are being borne by the church).
We have met the prospective builder and are proposing to extend the engagement of our architects (DMS) to support our Fabric Committee in providing oversight of the building work. The builder will appoint a Project Manager to take overall responsibility and ensure compliance on Health and Safety.
We would of course like to undertake the full scope of the proposed plans, but the work can be phased, though this will increase disruption and incur potential additional cost, and would need to be discussed with our builder.
We would envisage Phase 1 to encompass the new Fire Exit, new toilets and kitchen, new window or bi-folds in front wall, and ideally internal bi-fold screens. Other work including the new entrance ‘pod’ would be deferred to later phase(s).
Fundraising
To support the building project the church convened a Fundraising & Publicity Committee in May 2019. The purpose of this committee is to:
The committee is also striving to improve communication for church members & the local community with the use of notice boards inside & outside of the church by providing visual aids. A thermometer is on the church entrance depicting how the building fund is progressing & a new notice board just inside the church entrance promotes regular & forthcoming events within the church.
In addition to this the committee ensures that news is up-to-date and use social media, the church has a Facebook page. We also utilise community networks and most importantly we have a Church website.
Update & progress on our church building fund
We have been busy in recent months not just by organising fundraising events but approaching organisations and submitting grant applications, some which have been successful. The following list is an acknowledgement and a big thankyou to those organisations who have supported our building fund.
As of January 2020 our Coffee Stop Donation Thermometer has reached £12k
Church Building Fund Thermometer has reached £ 74K Total £ 86k
2020
Emmerdale Fund £25k
2019
Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation £10k
Harewood Parish Council £5k
United Reformed Church Yorkshire Synod £3k