Where are we with our building project?

Bill Bradley gave the following progress report to the congregation after the 8.00 and 10.15 services on Sunday 7 December:

The last update on our project, which, as you know, aims to undertake internal improvements to the building, was in June when it was announced that the application to the Heritage Lottery Fund had been unsuccessful and the PCC had subsequently agreed a 3-stage strategy to move the project forward.

As you will remember, the first stage was to determine whether we should re-apply for the Heritage Grant. We met with Officers from HLF and it was clear that there would be little capital funding available in the next few years although we could apply for revenue grants. As our priority was for primarily capital building works PCC decided not to re-apply at that time.

The second stage or option was to explore a revised less costly scheme with the emphasis on Community and church needs. We are now at this stage and if the funding for this option cannot be found then PCC has agreed to undertake whatever works it can with the monies available.

It is clear that your PCC is determined to improve the facilities within the building and I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you on behalf of the PCC for all the support it has received from the congregation - support that has shown itself in so many ways.

So where are we with the project?

The revised scheme has been prepared at an estimated capital cost of £700 – £750,000 and the latest plans are displayed on the boards in the south aisle. The main difference from the original plans is the loss of the second floor levels at both the east and west ends of the building together with the change of emphasis from heritage to community learning.

In addition to the capital costs of the project there will also be initial revenue costs to find to meet the running costs some of which will be met from grants and some from increased income. It is intended that the project should be sustainable within 3 years.

A Funding Profile is in place, which is based on a funding package involving 3 major funding bodies – the development agency Yorkshire Forward, the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and ourselves. Previously we were looking at 2 major funding bodies – HLF and ourselves.

In round figures we are looking to raise

                    £250,000 from Yorkshire Forward (YF)

                    £300,000 from Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT)

and the balance from ourselves and various smaller grant-making trusts.

Members of the Building Group have held several meetings with both CRT and with WMDC as it is the Council who will receive the overall YF allocation and will be responsible for distributing it to individual projects.

We originally planned to apply for £150,000 from CRT but during our discussions with them we have been advised to go for the maximum funding of £300,000, which is very encouraging. Our project fits in very well with the CRT criteria as a number of our aims relate to improving the quality of life of those people in our community who live in some of the most deprived former coalfield areas in the country. We were initially encouraged by CRT to start our project on 1^st April next year but this has not proved to be possible as we couldn’t guarantee the match funding from YF (which only becomes available in the new financial year) nor from ourselves.

In seeking the match funding from YF we have corresponded and/or held meetings with Elected members and officers of Wakefield Council including the Deputy Leader, all 6 Pontefract Councillors, the Director of Regeneration Services and several members of his staff involved with Major Projects. We understand that over the next few years the YF allocation made to Wakefield Council will be spent in areas other than Wakefield City and Castleford, which have received vast amounts of regeneration monies in recent years. The church was well represented in the consultation process in the preparation of the Pontefract Masterplan and following its completion in 2007 this area will now be a priority for regeneration. St Giles church features very prominently within the proposals for the town and it is on this basis together with the economic inclusion aspects of our project relating to the work of the Job club in particular, that we are pursuing YF funding for the improvement of the facilities within the building.

Any other match funding must come from ourselves and other smaller grant-making bodies. For a scheme costing in excess of three quarters of a million pounds it is not easy to secure funds from small trusts and this is why we are continuing to concentrate on getting the support of major funders like CRT and YF in the first instance. If we can secure funding from these it should be a reasonably straightforward task to get smaller funders on board. Nevertheless, we have already received £5000 from the Bishops Development Fund, £2000 from Wakefield’s Community Chest and £1000 from Allchurches Trust, which is the ultimate parent company of Ecclesiastical Insurance Office plc from which it receives its income. In addition a donation of £10,000 has been promised by U K Coal plc on receipt of a planning decision notice for the development of the former Prince of Wales colliery site. We have been told to expect the cheque early in the New Year.

With regard to the church’s contribution to the project we must clearly demonstrate our own commitment to the scheme to those bodies from whom we are seeking financial support. Although we have not put a definitive figure on what our contribution should be, other funders might expect our own organisation to contribute somewhere between 25 – 30% of total costs. This might mean a contribution of between £187,500 and £225,000 for capital build costs. The PCC is looking at a number of means to achieve this. 

Our own funding strategy includes: -

Direct Giving – which must be the major part of our own funding of the project, either lump sums or through Standing Orders. We are very grateful to those who are helping in this way. For those who have not yet contributed in this way or have not yet had the opportunity to do so, I would urge you to speak to Linda Atkins, Chairman of the Fundraising Group or Fr Ian, Treasurer of the Community Fund.

Fundraising Activities – these activities are essential as they also raise awareness of our project within the community. The Fundraising Group have been working hard on this aspect of the project as have a number of individuals – Kath and Ann’s Whist Drives are now a regular feature within the church’s calendar, Barbara’s Vicars Tarts, Angela’s anthology of poems, Jean’s cards and Eileens dreaded quiz’s just to mention a few – apologies to anyone who I haven’t mentioned – I realise it is always dangerous to mention names! Again we are very grateful for the continuing support given to these fundraising activities by the congregation. I understand that it is hoped to organise a number of events next year that will attract more people from the local community so look out for those.

Legacies and donations from businesses and other organisations – are other means of meeting our funding target. 

I’ve mentioned the work being done by the Building Group and the Fundraising Group and I would like to also mention the work undertaken by the Worship Group which is a constant source of strength to us all. Thank you for your support to this group and for your continuing prayers for the project. Again there are some exciting things being planned by this group for the New Year so look out for those also.

I’m conscious that my report has been very finance orientated but we have now reached a stage where the project cannot proceed very much further without the funding package now coming together. Although nothing can be guaranteed, I feel we have a rare opportunity to get this project off the ground during 2009 utilising the resources of 2 major funding organisations both of which regard Pontefract as a priory area. After 10 years of trying perhaps the time is now right for this project to come to fruition.

St Giles Church has, throughout its history, overcome the need to change and adapt to meet the needs of its congregation and local community. Without being pretentious in any way, it is 140 years since the last major alterations took place and it may well have fallen on us at this time to undertake the next major improvements to the building to bring the facilities up to modern day standards and to meet, as much as possible, the expectations and needs of our local community.   

Bill Bradley Chairman, Building Group