Southdown Community Leader Talks About Exciting Development Plans And Appeals For Funds
"Our refurbishment plans will provide a new hall facility in the nave of the existing church building, a refurbished worship area under the tower, and totally modernised and upgraded, redecorated premises. The building will also benefit from up to date technology in renewable energy for heating, alongside a much improved thermal performance from the external fabric." Jane Parsons, Southdown and Whiteway Church and Community Partnership Manager, tells us about the exciting refurbishment plans for the Methodist Church Centre - and how this will impact the community.
(PICTURES: JANE PARSONS, AGE CONCERN AND TIME BANK)
"The total cost of the refurbisment programme is around £986,000 including professional fees and the inevitable vat.
"Some of the funding will be provided from the sale of our church premises at Oldfield Park. (That congregation under their new name Horizon Methodist Church, will meet regularly on Sundays in the refurbished premises. At the moment they are meeting at St Joseph’s in Sladebrook Road. We have applied for grant aid from a number of Charitable Trusts and Foundations as well as seeking local contributions from local Methodist Church members and national and local Methodist funds...But there is currently a shortfall of around £50,000." says Jane.
The timing of the sale of the property and other circumstances seem to have affected the church's original funding plan and means that any funding contributions would be much appreciated, says Jane.
"We were unfortunate to have begun our preparatory work, particularly the sale of Oldfield Park, just before the downturn in the economy.
"That, together with what seemed inordinate delays and prevarication from the Council Planning Department in gaining planning consents for alternative uses of those premises, meant that we missed the boat in financial terms for our initial funding plan, which was to have been able to afford the work without recourse to external bodies.
"We will be pleased and extremely grateful for any financial contribution, from any source within the city and the wider area covered by the Methodist Circuit. This now extends over the whole area of the BANES council."
The refurbishment project with additional meeting space, will mean that Jane and her team can expand the already comprehensive work they do in and with the community.
Currently a Nearly New Shop - run and managed by volunteers, Southdown Toddlers, Care and Friendship Lunches and Wednesday Fellowship are Church centre based, Partnership run activities led by Jane and a team of volunteers.
"Our Thursday Care and Friendship coffee and lunches, which I lead cater for 40 people and we appointed a part time cook last December to take over the running of the kitchen from me, with a team of volunteers." says Jane.
The partnership also works with organisations including Age Concern; who provide a volunteer to visit the centre and give information and advice on a monthly basis at the Care and Friendship Community Lunch, from 10am to 12pm. Health professionals support The Baby Clinic which operates from the centre. Mental health and the Carer's Group hold regular weekly sessions, which the Partnership and Jane support.
"I also set up The Point which links with agencies as part of the partnership 
initiative such as Age Concern, Councillor Surgery, a monthly Saturday Morning Surgery, Community Learning - who pop into Toddlers on a monthly basis and Credit Union on Thursdays from 6 – 7pm." Jane adds.
Jane got involved with the partnership following a call from God to support Southdown. "I first got involved in January 1995 because I saw a need in the area and felt God was calling me to support Southdown. I had just been accredited as a Methodist Local Preacher in the Bath Circuit, and so offered myself in a voluntary capacity to help the Circuit."
She was appointed as a Voluntary Lay Worker in 1995 and ran the Toddler group at Beechen Cliff Methodist Church, also helping with the Southdown Care and Friendship Lunch on, before working with Deacon Joy Newbold on various projects including linking with First Steps Nursery in Twerton.
"As the work in the community began to grow and develop Deacon Joy took over as Chair of an Inter Agency Forum for the area. Links were made with Agency groups, Southside (Family project), First Steps Nursery based in Twerton.
"In 1998 it was agreed by the Bath Circuit to set up a group of Trustees from within the Circuit to manage the church property at Southdown and it was then that Southdown Whiteway Community Project was born.
"As the work grew in the year 2000 I became a paid part time Lay Worker and over the next few years the hours grew as the work developed. In 2009 it was agreed that I would take over from the Deacon as a full time Church Worker becoming Partnership Manager. It was also agreed to change the name from Southdown Whiteway Community Project to Southdown Whiteway Church and Community Partnership.
"As Partnership Manager I am also connected to the following community Groups
- Trustee at Southside (Family Project), Time Bank- where I am currently Chairperson of the Trustees, Bath City Farm, First Steps (Bath), Twerton Infants School, Southdown Infants and Junior Schools, Southside Youth Centre, and other agencies, Chaplain to Blagdon Park Sheltered Housing. Links to Avondown Sheltered Housing, Infant School Stay and Play."says Jane.
A monthly community worship takes place after the Thursday lunch.
"I believe that from the very beginning of the work at Southdown Project Partnership God has been in its very midst. When we haven’t been sure about the way to go God has opened new doors for us. The work of the project is about taking the love of God into the community through the things we do, through pastoral care and support." says Jane.
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