Church to expand community activities with £600,000 annexe

It is hoped the new facility at St John's Church, in Clayton Lane, Clayton, will help the church to extend its already extensive involvement within the local area.

The project, which started in September, will see the creation of an annexe at the north-east end of the Victorian building to provide much needed space for community activities.

Called The Community Rooms, the annexe will include a large space that can be divided into three meeting rooms, a kitchen, and toilets, including one for people with disabilities.

It will have level access to the church and a separate main entrance. The area around the annexe will be landscaped with paths and grass.

The Reverend Keith Dunnett, vicar at St John's, said: "We have had a growing church and growing involvement in providing community activities over the last seven years. We wanted to provide better facilities for that work and to expand that work. At the moment all we have is one small room up some steps, which is not really accessible, and a very ancient toilet."

As well as running Scout and Guide groups and an art group, the church organises youth groups and has a large team which visits people who are house-bound, lonely and in hospital.

It also runs courses in marriage preparation and enrichment as well as money management and works with bereaved people.

Mr Dunnett said: "There is a real heart in the church to serve the local community. We are here for Clayton. This is for everybody, not just for church members."

The church hopes the new facility will allow it to expand its work and is looking at possibly running a small children's holiday club as well as an afternoon group for people who are lonely and isolated.

It is expected that work will be complete on the project by spring or summer next year.

The work is being funded by several organisations including The Clothworkers' Foundation, Bradford Council, The Kirby Laing Foundation, The Church and Community Fund, Congregational and General Charitable Trust, The Sir George Martin Trust and The Veolia Environmental Trust, which has awarded a 33,000 grant through the Landfill Communities Fund towards the 164,000 structural work for the scheme.

Executive director of The Veolia Environmental Trust, Margaret Cobbold, said: "The Trust works to support community and environmental projects throughout the UK.

"It is always good to hear that a scheme we have supported is going well and I look forward to seeing the completed annexe being used and enjoyed."

The Veolia Environmental Trust has been supporting community and environmental projects for over 12 years.

Under the Landfill Communities Fund, landfill site operators can donate a percentage, currently 5.5 per cent of their landfill tax payment to these projects.

St John's Parochial Church Council is committed to supporting local people, and its congregation delivers a comprehensive programme of community service, totalling 32,000 voluntary hours each year.

It consulted widely with the local community and potential user groups in the city.

The entire building is designed to be as accessible as possible and a ramp at the rear of the annexe will mean that people with disabilities can have direct access to the gardens from the community centre.

Project manager Gordon Abbott said: "There is a real need for this new annexe and the comfort and facilities it will provide. We are looking forward to seeing its doors open and it being used for the benefit of everyone, whatever their age and background."

Once the work is complete, it is anticipated a wide range of organisations will use the annexe.