Plans to refurbish the community rooms at GPCC were discussed tonight. The leadership is considering a funding application for refurbishing the community room, stage area and children’s room, and ideas and suggestions from all church members and all users of the building are welcomed. The last funding applications (to Coalfields Regeneration Trust) in 2009 saw us receive money for youth equipment and, of course, a substantial grant towards our current building. This time, we are looking to apply to a funding organisation called WREN and perhaps also to CRT again to help us with future developments of the building which will fulfil our aim to provide excellent community facilities available to all.
Ideas suggested so far include:
- new radiators and pipework and decoration in the community room (following our continuing upgrade of the heating system in the building, we need more efficient, touch sensitive radiators to replace the ones which are well over 20 years old in that room)
- waterproof flooring, redecoration and the installation of a sink in the children’s room to allow for ‘messy play’ in that area (which could also be hired out as a smaller meeting room during the week)
- new equipment for the youth group & Parent ‘n’ Toddler group
- development of the stage area, including new lighting and sound system and projector for this area, and the development of the storage area under the stage. This would enable the stage to be used for amateur productions and would also allow this room to be hired out for business meetings and conferences.
- an awning outside the main community room to protect people waiting outside in inclement weather and to give us an outdoor area for community outreach events (for face painting etc.)
- cavity wall insulation to help make the building more energy efficient and to reduce running costs
At this stage, however, the sky’s the limit! We need to dream big in God and listen to His ideas and glimpse His vision for now. Over the next few weeks, everybody using the building will be asked to fill in a consultation form (available in church or by email from julie@gpcchurch.co.uk) to give us their feedback and suggestions.
The Big Birthday Bash community events on 21st and 22nd June will also provide opportunities for the wider public to have their say as to how we can best serve our local community. After all, we believe we are working with God in the local community and with God for the local community and we are keen for everyone to be a part of what God is doing in Goldthorpe.