(#487) Upgrade and renew the community hall

All Saints Church West Ewell (ASCWE) in Surrey, has two separate community buildings in addition to the main church. Located on the same site, a small prefabricated building located in the church garden offers a small hall with integrated kitchenette and toilet. It is well used by the community each week. The subject of this application is the main community hall, which is constructed of pre-cast reinforced concrete, and offers a fully equipped kitchen, a large hall with a stage and toilets. The building is used by a local playgroup Monday to Friday, but is used in the evenings for dance and fitness sessions, and by a local slimming group. Two further groups occupy the space fortnightly, and the hall is popular for private hire.

The community hall has seen little improvement in the last 50 years. The hall windows and doors are single glazed and inefficient, the guttering and down pipes are broken causing external damage to the concrete structure, and asbestos soffits require replacement. Biffa Award has been approached to fully fund the project, which will improve energy efficiency and comfort, and prevent an ingress of water from failing guttering and down pipes.

The applicant will continue to raise funds for wider work internally, which will include upgrading the kitchen and repairing and resurfacing the church car park and pathways.