Appeal

The total cost of our complete refurbishment is around £800,000.

Our strategy has been threefold.

1. Raising the first £25,000 - and we raised £125,000!
We set ourselves to raise £25,000 in the seven months to Easter 2009. This was a large target - about £500 per member; and in 2006 the congregation had raised £20,000 towards the roof repair. As we started the appeal we were immensely encouraged by an offer to provide £4 for every £1 we raised if we got to £25,000 by the target date. Many friends rallied round so that we could take advantage of this unique offer, and we exceeded our target by Easter Day by about £250.

The fun part of raising money was working to get £25,000. To see some of the ways we did it, click here.

2. Putting the case together
Any successful planning application to alter a Grade 2 listed building needs to demonstrate that

there is a Need;

what is proposed does not alter the Significance of the building; and

there is a Business Plan to raise the necessary capital and ensure that the proposed use is financially viable.

In 2008 we began a a consultation process which consisted of detailed analysis of information on social and health conditions in Dawlish, and we met with almost every voluntary group in the town, and the Town Council, police, Health Care providers and others. Five street surveys were conducted with over 500 people being interviewed for their opinions on the ideas which we had. This fed into the planning application.

It took us three years to get planning permission partly because our application was opposed by English Heritage, the Ancient Monument Society and Teignbridge District Council. In the end we had to submit a document 10 cms thick containing a very robust business plan, clear architect's drawings for our proposals, costs for each part of the work, detailed descriptions of all the buildings of the church's architect, and a strategy to seek funding from both statutory-related bodies and private charitable trusts.

3. Seeking grants
The work of seeking grants began in July 2010. We had hoped it would only take us two years to raise what we require, but the present economic climate seems to make that impossible.

Grant applications have now been taken over by The Strand Community Trust.
What follows is the thinking of its trustees.

The Strand trustees have decided to address the immediate needs before seeking major funding.

The first task was to refurbish a kitchen in the Strand Hall; this has been done thanks to a grant from Teignbridge District Council of £600 for kitchen equipment.

The second task is to provide disabled access. Towards this we have been given £300 from Dawlish Town Council and £600 from Devon County Council, and the gift of a suitable ramp. This work is not being incorporated into -

The third task is to provide decent toilets including a disabled toilet. Towards this we have been given £12,500 by Devon County Council and £20,000 by Ugbrooke Landfill Trust. This meets the basic cost of the toilets and disabled access, but a further £2,400 is needed for matched funding and about £7,000 adequately to equip the toilets and the kitchenette which will need to be moved to make space for the toilets. An appeal will be launched shortly for this.

It is hoped to have raised the money by October and for work to start in November.

Up to date information is given on the latest news page.

Children and young people

Our policy

We believe that the church is the Body of Christ, made up of people of all ages. We actively welcome children at our services when children have activities suitable for their ages and there is a ‘children’s address’.

We are also committed to new forms of engaging with children, as our involvement in Messy Church shows.

Sundays

Currently we do not have a Junior Church, though provision is always made for children who come. Appropriate relevant activities are available, and

Parents & Toddlers Group

We run a weekly Parents & Toddlers Group (Wednesdays 10.00-12.00) which provides structured activities for children and a chance for parents to chat and support one another.

For details email enquiries@Dawlish URC

MESSY CHURCH

The youth leaders of the Methodist and URC Churches, concerned at low numbers in their Junion Churches, decided to cooperate to run a monthly after-school club on Fridays. Inspired by reports of the success of Messy Church in several local URC congregations, they decided to adopt the Messy Church format.

The first Messy Church was held in January with 35 children were present in the Methodist Church hall. Ever since the pattern has been the same: as the children arrive there are board games to enjoy. Then the group gathers together to hear about the theme for the day, which always involves the opportunity to try various crafts around the theme for about an hour. Then there is worship for 15 minutes before before everyone sits down to a delicious hot tea which usually includes chips, and is always followed by cake and fruit.

One of the features of Messy Church is the encouragement to parents to stay and become involved with the children, including sharing in the worship. An increasing number are now doing this.

The dates for Messy Church until the summer are: 20th June and 18th July, each starting zt 3.45 and ending at 6.00. For further details email Marie Whitehead on phone 01626 889 098.

The URC Youth Leader, Marie Whitehead, said "It's really exciting, with the children loving it and parents joining in. If numbers continue to grow we will need to divide into two groups."