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Church building project all set to go ahead
AYLESBURY Methodist Church is able to go ahead with its £1 million building project thanks to a grant from a new National Lottery funding scheme.
The 325,000 it has received from the Big Lottery Community Buildings Fund means it can proceed with the refurbishment of its community centre. It is one of the first projects to benefit from the 50 million fund, which aims to give communities the chance to improve their quality of life by funding buildings that are economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.
The church on Buckingham Street already provides a venue for more than 30 groups, ranging from Aylesbury Rape Crisis to Aylesbury Choral Society and Girls' and Boys' Brigades.
It is hoped that the project will increase capacity by 30 per cent and provide better disability access and be more energy efficient.
Aylesbury's minister, the Rev David Jenkins, said: "This is very good news. The people of the church have worked with great care and patience and devoted hours of effort towards this application.
"The community centre exists to give opportunities to people in this area to meet, to find support and understanding, to learn and move on in life. It is our intention, when the work is completed, to offer even more facilities to this rapidly expanding town. Our priority is always to assist those who are most vulnerable."
Project spokesman Peter Green added: "This award is great news for Aylesbury. We can now afford the full scheme that will create 30 per cent more useable space. So we will be able to accommodate further charities and community groups looking for affordable town centre meeting venues.
"We will have a suite of eight meeting locations for eight to 180 people plus the church itself, which can seat 300. Given the vital importance of adequate infrastructure to support our growing population our community centre scheme is a step in the right direction."
But thousands of pounds are still needed to renovate the church itself. Treasurer Roger Kirk said: "We committed to raise two thirds of the community centre money from Methodist sources and one third externally. In addition, we will need around 60,000 for renovation of the church itself. So whilst this Big Lottery grant is a huge help, we still need to continue our own fundraising programme, gift days and further giving from church members and grant-awarding charities."
Work should start in the summer and it is expected to take about ten months to complete. During this period the community centre at the rear of the building will not be available to use, but the ground floor of the church will be available for worship and community groups.
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Weather for Aylesbury
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -8 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny spells
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