Creating Space For All

What’s happening and how you can help

It has been several months now that the builders have been onsite. Below are some photo's of what has been happening during this time.

 

As the first phase starts to come to an end, we need to look at how we move forward to finance the end of phase 1 and the start of phase 2. We want these buildings to become a real hub of community, faith and support. We need prayer, support and money, if you think you could help with any of this, then please contact Maria here who is helping us to raise the money that is needed to see our buildings support the life of the community and of the church in a 21st century enviroment.

 

Why the need to change?
Horfield Baptist Church reflects and works for the glory of God today, but our buildings remain locked in the last century. They were built when our church and its local community had different needs and expectations. Past generations left them to us as a valuable legacy and we now want to use it in “creating space for all” in Bishopston. This means investing and redeveloping to achieve our buildings’ full potential and remove the obstacles to their wider use. It means tackling and changing:

  1. formal frontages that don’t welcome people in
  2. poorly identified and difficult-to-use entrances
  3. inflexible internal space that is hard to get around and isn’t fully accessible
  4. designs that limits the best use of space and masks some original features
  5. poor use of natural light
  6. inadequate capacity to reduce environmental impacts or accommodate modern technologies

Even in their current undeveloped state our buildings host or support a number of church-based groups and other local organisations. However, a recent area audit shows strong demand for buildings that can represent a new focus for the community, that existing groups or services can use and where new ones can develop. That’s why we are “creating space for all”.

What is going to change?

The project is about removing the barriers and limitations that our buildings impose on opportunities to engage with local people and groups. We want buildings that draw people in and that they will want to use. This means major work to create:

  1. clear, welcoming entrances and reception areas
  2. full accessibility for older and disabled people
  3. a new family-friendly Fair Trade café
  4. improved floor designs and interior layouts
  5. better use of existing space
  6. more rooms with better facilities for all
  7. optimum natural light and modern lighting scheme
  8. a reduced carbon footprint

We’ve a unique resource. We want to adapt it to express God’s welcome, openness and inclusivity and our own willingness to serve the local community. Our redeveloped buildings will marry visible sacred space that meets spiritual needs with a vibrant mix of facilities and services for local people.

Who will use the buildings in the future?

Horfield Baptist Church is a growing and outward looking church family.
We will continue to use the buildings and support a range of associated groups. The project will also encourage and attract a variety of other users and uses. Many of these will meet needs expressed in a recent area audit. These include:

  1. a new family-friendly Fair Trade café for the neighbourhood - fronting Gloucester Road and with associated alfresco seating
  2. space where improved facilities for young people - particularly teenagers - can develop or relocate
  3. better provision for older people - building on current support and reflecting increasing needs
  4. a capacity to extend or create use by the NHS or social care services
  5. modern, flexible, affordable alternative space for local voluntary, arts or community groups

We’re not prescriptive about future use of the buildings, but we know that there is strong demand and a range of possibilities.

 

How can you help?

“Creating space for all” is a £2.5 million project - we can’t achieve it alone, but we can achieve it with your help.

Please help us by:

Giving a gift - any amount you can afford would be welcome. You can give as a one-off gift or through regular donations. If you’re a taxpayer, you can boost what you give through Gift Aid.

Telling people what’s happening - other people may then come forward to help or get involved.

Sharing your ideas - if you’ve any ideas about fundraising, sponsorship or partner organisations we could approach, let us know.

Praying - we need to harness the power of prayer to complete this project.

To email the fundrasier Maria Hartnell or to find out more about the project, click here