Parish Hall Update - March 2014

ST PIUS X CHURCH - PROPOSED PARISH HALL

PROGRESS REPORT BY THE FINANCE AND FUNDRAISING COMMITTEES TO THE PARISH weekend of 1st/2nd March 2014

 

A  -  INTRODUCTION

 

The proposal for a parish hall was first seriously discussed about ten years ago.   In 2006 we conducted a survey of parishioners which indicated that there was support for the idea among a majority and a reasonable commitment of financial backing from sufficient numbers, as long as we could raise the initial capital.  The raising of funds started in earnest at that time.

 

The original, rather ambitious, scheme was rejected by Kingston Planning in 2008.  In 2010 a revised scheme was prepared and in 2011 a Planning Approval was obtained.  This prompted a new initiative which resulted in the formation of a Fundraising Committee in late 2011 whose remit was to co-ordinate all fundraising within the Parish and in the wider community and to investigate other potential sources of income.  The new Parish Consultation followed which aimed to re-assess what the Parish wanted in the facilities of a Hall and to what extent it would still be supported financially. 

 

At the same time the standing order scheme was set up, regular second collections taken up and various new initiatives undertaken to swell the funds.  Individual Parishioners continued to make donations, many of them with Gift Aid.  All of this has kept the fund moving along.

       

B  -  PROPOSALS

 

Following the 2012 consultation exercise, we appointed an Architect, ADM Architecture.  After taking account of the results of the parish consultation, site considerations and feedback from Kingston’s planning officers the Architect produced the current plan which provides a meeting space of about 600 square feet, a kitchen facility and toilet accommodation, including facilities for the disabled. 

 

Planning Approval for this scheme was granted in October 2013, subject to thirteen Conditions.  None of the Conditions are considered to be prohibitive.

 

The drawings have also been submitted to the Art and Architecture Committee of the Archdiocese and the proposals have received their approval.

 

C  -  ESTIMATED COSTS

 

To clarify our requirements and to assist the Fundraising Committee in their approaches to outside organisations, we have produced an Elemental Cost Estimate based on the approved drawing and an outline specification.

 

This estimate indicates that the sum required to carry out the project amounts to approximately £195,000.  Building costs are estimated at £179,000 and fees at £16,000.  We are investigating the VAT position but believe that it is not chargeable on the building costs.       

 

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D  -  FUNDING TO DATE

 

The original initiative in 2006-07 had a good response with some generous loans and donations forthcoming from individual parishioners.  Thanks to the efforts of the hardworking fundraisers among us, organising social events, table top sales, etc. the fund continued to grow.

 

By the time we set up the formal Fundraising Committee in the latter part of 2011 there was a total of £43,000 in the bank.  Thanks to the ongoing schemes already in place and the new initiatives promulgated by the new Committee, in a little over two years, to the end of 2013, this had risen to £87,000.  Taking account of payments received since then we can say the fund is around £90,000.  This includes £10,000 in loans from parishioners and £10,000 from a generous bequest in the Will of one of our deceased parishioners.

 

Other funds available to us are interest free loans from other Parishes.  Two Parishes have confirmed that they are willing to help us with such loans, repayable over a ten year period, totalling £25,000.  This brings our total available funds to approximately £115,000. 

 

E  -  CURRENT POSITION

 

Estimated cost - £195,000.

Funds available - £115,000  

THIS LEAVES A SHORTFALL OF £80,000.

 

At this point may we refer to St Luke’s Gospel chapter 14 in which Jesus says “Which of you, intending to build a tower, would not first sit down and work out the cost to see if he had enough to complete it.”    As a responsible Committee we do not feel we can ignore such authoritative advice and therefore cannot recommend that the project goes ahead until we are certain that we have the funds available to pay for it.  We can’t build half a hall. Nor can we build an unfinished hall.

 

So, in order to continue with the project, we need to raise a substantially greater sum of money, and the quickest method seems likely to be either in interest free loans or in the form of grants and donations.

 

That said, the Finance and Fundraising Committees intend to continue with all the current initiatives by which money is being raised.  As a guide on how much this will contribute, taking account of the current levels of individual donations, standing orders, second collections and regular fundraising events, together with interest and gift aid claims we estimate conservatively that this will raise about £13,000 each year.  However, with no other monies raised this means we could not reasonably start building for another 5 or 6 years, during which time costs will inevitably rise. 

 

Another point to remember is that Planning Approval expires after three years and, although we would not expect any difficulty in renewing it, we would still have to go through the process again.   

 

We are also looking at the possibility of raising further interest-free loans from other Parishes by spreading our net wider within the Archdiocese and we are seeking advice from the Diocesan Finance Secretary on this matter.

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The Fundraising Committee will continue to investigate the possibility of obtaining funds from Charitable Trusts and the like but the problems being encountered include the conditions which are usually imposed on such grants, such as making the Hall available for the community generally.  Unfortunately, such conditions clash with the one of the conditions attached to the Planning Approval, that the Hall can only be used for activities related to the Church.

 

The Fundraising Committee are open to suggestions for other possible sources of grants and will always welcome new fundraising ideas.

 

We are aware of the opinion held by some that, if a start is made and it can be seen that something is really happening, funds will start to flow.  That may be true but we feel that the Parish is being as generous as it can be already.  We cannot expect those who are already contributing to suddenly double their contributions.  If, however, there are parishioners who have some money available which they would produce in such circumstances, either as gift or as an interest free loan, please come forward now.

 

One reason sometimes raised as why we should not go ahead with the building of a Hall is that this Parish has no independent future.  While we can never say “never”, we have checked with the Archdiocese that there are no plans to amalgamate us with anyone else. 

 

F  -  THE FUTURE

 

What do we do now?  Firstly we acknowledge and thank all those who have donated money, time and effort to the cause.  As a Parish, we continue to be indebted to the hard work which has been done over many years by those Parishioners who organise events, collect materials, sell raffle tickets and generally cajole us all to join in and participate.  We thank them and ask them to continue their efforts while we also continue with the other processes I have just explained in our efforts to bridge the gap in funding.  

 

If, however, having explored all these avenues, we are not successful, the Parish may yet have to consider whether we can really afford this project and, therefore, whether there are alternative solutions, maybe smaller, maybe cheaper.

 

Finally, we ask you all to continue to have faith and to pray that the project will happen.  

 

Our Parish has a future and that future, particularly for our families, will be so much more successful if we have a proper meeting place with good facilities.

 

Think about what you can do to help, with money, with ideas, with practical assistance.  Just let us know. 

 

Richard Smith

Chair Parish Finance Committee

rs@racan.demon.co.uk

Lorna Valcin

Chair Parish Fundraising Committee

lornavalcin@gmail.com


SUGGESTED PRAYER

Mother Teresa wrote that she made a promise to pray 85,000 Memorares, which was one for each dollar needed for a building project.  Think about it.   

The Memorare

“Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided.  Inspired by this confidence, I fly to you, O virgin of virgins, my Mother.  To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.  O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer me.  Amen.”

(copyright St. Pius X RC Church)