Mission Statement :

We are dedicated to improving and upgrading the Community Hall, in order to provide more and accessible recreational and leisure activities, in a safe, clean and inviting environment; inclusive to people of all ages and abilities in the local community.

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The Work of the Committee

The Committee formed in 2010. We are a Community Group, with our own Constitution and Bank Account, separate from the Church, although all big decisions have to be agreed by PCC as the Church owns the Hall. Our aim is to make the rather ‘tired-looking’ 1960s Hall modern, up to date, comfortable and complying with all the legal and health and hygiene requirements. This will also allow the Hall to be accessible to more local people who may want to use it. Subject to suitability, anyone can hire the Hall for an event or meeting. Our plan is to work our way round the Upper and Lower Halls, modernising, replacing and upgrading facilities. We have achieved a lot already but still have a long way to go.
We are in the process of applying to become a registered charity which we hope will benefit our fundraising and will also mean we can ask for Gift Aid from donators who pay tax. Also we won't have to pay tax, will have some VAT breaks and will be better placed to represent the local community.

So far we have:

• Renamed Hall – new sign
• Full hall survey and replaced original windows in Upper Main Hall
• Replaced and upgraded kitchen in Lower Hall
• Replaced blinds in Main Hall and new chairs bought for Hall
• Extended hatchway between kitchen and Main Hall and removal and bricking up of unnecessary door
• Asbestos survey
• Former kitchen in Upper Hall dismantled and replaced to provide high standard of catering
• Made application to Plymouth City Council for Planning Permission (granted)
• Had Building regulation drawings completed
• Helped with fire regulation updates which were needed
• Replaced old central heating boiler with two new ones, one in Lower and one in Upper Hall, partly funded by a grant from SWW
• In 2018 we completed an extension to the front of the Hall, with a new ramp, railing and some steps. This means that the Upper Hall is now wheelchair accessible. It also gives us a light and spacious foyer and a brand a new Ladies Toilet.
• Completed the Phase enabling us to build an accessible toilet and baby changing room within the extension, built by Elmes Construction – in Summer 2022. This now means a better user situation for those with mobility problems and Mums with their young children.

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The Next Step and Future Plans

We are thrilled to announce that following a grant application by the PCC for funding to renew the Main Hall roof – we have been granted £52,775 to carry out the work by Biffa Award! Biffa Award is part of the Landfill Communities Fund, giving grants that seek to improve their local communities. PCC is now enrolled as an Environmental Body with Entrust and will be continuing to ensure we meet the criteria required of us. We plan that the roof work, by a local firm - Stay Dry Roofing - will be carried out during May – this will mean some groups may have to be cancelled, but only for the first week of the work. There will be much more publicity about this in due course so watch this space!

Although the next Phase was planned to be to build new male toilets and extend the existing Committee Room, widening the doorway to improve accessibility and create a medium sized meeting room with self-contained tea and coffee making facilities, we have decided to move next to the installation of a through lift to enable those with mobility issues access to the Lower Hall.

Check the church website and our new Hall Facebook page to see what is on over the next few months, in the Hall as well as the church, and pay us a visit. We are confident that with this upgrading and refurbishment, we can offer more, much needed activities, and create more social, educational and leisure opportunities to more people, both locally and in Plymouth as a city.

Please let us know if there are any particular activities you are interested in or would like us to offer or if you would like to check out the Hall for suitability for starting your own group or class or hire it. Just contact our Hall Bookings Manager and come and have an informal chat and a look round.

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How Funds Have Been Raised So Far

We have so far raised funds through the following grants:

1. £10,000 - Million for Mission Grant (Exeter Diocese)
2. £2,500 - Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation
3. £2,000 - Clare Milne Trust
4. £1,500 - AllChurches Trust
5. £5,000 - Garfield Weston
6. £5,000 - Beatrice Laing Trust
7. £2,654 - local Co-op Community Fund
8. £3,562 - local Co-op Community Fund
9. £10,500 - North Yard Community Trust
10. £5,000 - pledged by Hobson Charity, once balance of monies raised to complete this present Phase
11. £2,250 - AllChurches Trust (now known as Benefact Trust)
12. £924 - Devon Community Foundation
13. £1,000 - Gibbons Family Trust
14. £6,000 - Dr and Mrs Alfred Darlington Charitable Trust
15. £4,000 - The Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation.
16. £52,775 - Biffa Award.
    


17. Small amounts are regularly raised from amounts gained from people who have registered online with our cause through Easyfundraising and then made purchases through that website; and, when allowed, proceeds from tables at regular Fayres held at the Hall and other fundraising events; donations from other Hall users i.e. barn dance, Community Soup Lunch, Ladies Film Nights, Toddler Groups and other donations from individuals within the church and community.

We are thrilled to be able to share with the local community how we are progressing with these improvements to the Hall, although we aren’t quite where we want to be yet! We will get there eventually and will succeed in making access and amenities better for all of you in the local community.

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PLEASE GET INVOLVED FOR THE SAKE OF THE FUTURE AND UPGRADING OF OUR INVALUABLE HALL

Some are already supporting this cause by registering at this link and using it every time they buy goods online: http://easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/stbudeauxhall

and using this link when they search the internet: http://stbudeauxhall.easysearch.org.uk/