Holy Nativity Blog

The plans (click the images to view them in Adobe Reader) for the project have been submitted for planning permission, following careful consultation with the planning department. This follows the submission in April of the plans for the proposed medical centre and for Dementia Care Partnership, both of which will be adjacent to the church development. Results are expected in July. The church is freeing the church hall site and some land to enable the integrated project to proceed. A business plan is being prepared for the ‘Outside In’ project, also our stage 2 application to the Big Lottery for the capital grant (to be submitted in August).

Partnership in development. The ‘Outside In’ project, Dementia Care Partnership and the new medical centre will be 3 discrete and independent parts of one whole integrated development. Our respective architects have been working together to ensure that the buildings not only serve the needs of the community but also enhance the site and the standing of the church as the key building.

Working together. Once the new facilities are built, the medical practitioners, Dementia Care services and the church will work together to provide a range of supportive opportunities for residents. Some facilities on site will be shared and also open to community use.

Outside In commitments:
• Being a place for worship, prayer and spiritual reflection
• Being more versatile and welcoming
• Encouraging local skills and gifts
• Encouraging partnership working
• Supporting initiatives which meet local needs
• Creating possibilities for learning
• Being environmentally responsible
• Promoting fair-trade principles

You can now view a 3D “fly-around” animation of the proposed Integrated Medical and Community Project. Check it out and then come back and let us know what you think!

The Co-operative Community Fund has given £2,500 towards the costs of recycling the wood from our old pews into new furniture for the church.

Co-op members make a difference by donating some of their share in the Co-op profits to the Co-operative Community Fund allowing local projects like ‘Outside In’ to benefit from more than £7million over the past ten years.

View an enlarged version of this photo.

As mentioned in December, The Big Lottery Community Buildings Fund has awarded ‘Outside In’ Community Project a development grant to progress the project to the planning permission stage. An application for stage 2 of the grant (the capital grant for the building) will be submitted in August 08. The Lottery decision will be made in February 2009.

Health Centre News
A developer for the proposed new health centre has been appointed. Ashley House plc won the approval of the doctors and dentist and they have been appointed to build the long-awaited health centre on Chapel House.

Healthy Partnerships…
The Church, Dementia Care Partnership and the Developer (Ashley House) are working together to ensure the best use of space and design of buildings for the community facilities needed.

Community Consultation Open Days
26th–29th February 2008 (also Fair Trade Week) at Holy Nativity Church, Chapel House.

The church will be open during the week with display material and information. Each day, at the following times, representatives will be on hand to explain and answer questions:

• Tuesday 26th from 2:00pm–3:30pm
• Wednesday 27th from 2:00pm–3:30pm and 6:30pm–8:00pm
• Thursday 28th from 6:30pm–8:00pm
• Friday 29th from 10:00am–11:30am

Fair Trade refreshments will be available. As this is Fair Trade Week there will be a stall of Fair Trade goods for sale.

Big Lottery News!
Development Grant awarded to ‘Outside In’

Holy Nativity’s ‘Outside In’ Community Project has been awarded a (stage 1) development grant by the Big Lottery Community Buildings Fund. We were shortlisted from 1,600 applications across the UK and obviously have a project worthy of support.

This is great news and will enable us to prepare professional plans ready for building. The application for the capital grant (stage 2) will be submitted in August and the decision made by February 2009.

To find out more about our Community Project, please click over to the ‘Outside In’ section of our website.