We are pleased to announce that Temple Park Centre has been given a new lease of life thanks to tens of thousands of pounds in grants from Viridor Credits, Biffa Award and Veolia Environmental Trust providing finance through the Landfill Communities Fund plus financial support from the Methodist, Anglican and United Reformed Churches and other community organisations.
Temple Park Centre is part of The Manor Church and Community Project (a charitable incorporated organisation) and refurbishment work is due to come to an end in this Autumn after five years.
Thanks to the vision of the Methodist, the Anglican and United Reformed Churches the building has had a massive overhaul to create a modern versatile space which the whole community can benefit from.
Working with Manor Assembly, MASKK (Manor School Kids Klub), the Manor Community Childcare Centre (MCCC), Manor & Castle Development Trust/Best Start as well as the S2 Foodbank and Food Club, the Centre can be used for all sorts of different activities and as a hub at the heart of the community.
Thanks to the financial support of our sponsors and the excellent progress being made by our contractors, Woodward & Taylor, the following work is being carried out and will be completed by the end of September:
A new carpark, landscaping, new access paths, ramps and steps, a new entrance and reception area, new toilets, new lighting, new meeting rooms, conversion to allow multi-use of the building, redecoration throughout, new emergency exits, upgrades to alarm systems, replacement windows and asbestos removal.
Reverend Julie Upton said: “Our approach has always been to work with the local community and with other organisations who work within the area. We very much believe in building trust and connections with local people and the different organisations working in the Manor area.
“Through this partnership approach, we have also been able to help establish new groups of uniformed organisations (Beaver, Cubs and Scouts) which are very popular.
“The redevelopment of the outdated and tired building of the old William Temple Church, now Temple Park Centre (TPC), has been part of our vision from the start and constitutes a key factor of securing a good community asset for the use of the local community for party and activity lettings, as well as a base for MASKK.
“Working together with MASKK, Best Start and MCCC, Manor Church and Community Project has been a partner in providing Stay, Play and Eat sessions during the school holidays. They are very popular, and our seasonal Craft & Fun afternoons cater for up to 50 children and their carers, offering a safe space for creativity, stories and shared food, all leading to building community with local people.”
Once the refurbishment work is complete there are plans to increase the services available to the local community and offer it for hire for dance classes and private functions as well as expand family play times.
Reverend Debora Marschner added: “Building community is something we as churches are good at, and providing a safe space for conversation, training and parenting, as well as enabling people to make friends and break cycles of social isolation are all part of our vision.
“We also believe that we may have a role to play in bringing together those who have lived on the Manor for generations and those who have only recently moved in the area. As a continuous presence on the Manor estate, and through the trust we have built over many years, Manor Church and Community Project could be instrumental in building bridges and creating opportunities and encounters that model good community cohesion.
“We’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported the project with funding, their time and also their prayers. Without you none of this would have been possible. We have created a Centre which will be a huge benefit to the local community for a long time to come.”
News of refurbishment grants
See separate posts for details of the Viridor Credits, Veolia Environmental Trust and Biffa Award grants.
Landfill Communities Fund:
The Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) is an innovative tax credit scheme enabling landfill operators to contribute money to organisations enrolled with ENTRUST as Environmental Bodies (EBs). EBs use this funding for a wide range of community and environmental projects in the vicinity of landfill sites. Landfill operators are able to claim a credit (currently 4.2%) against their landfill tax liability for 90% of the contributions they make. Since its inception in 1996, over £1.6 billion has been spent on more than 56,000 projects across the UK. For further information please visit www.entrust.org.uk or see HMRC’s general guide to landfill tax.
