St Mary's Ely hall facilities internal alterations (BTP2)

To carry out internal building work to improve the toilet facilities and access to them, for use by all who come to visit or attend events in St Mary’s Church Ely and the attached church hall.
Our first Building Transformation Project (BTP1), completed in November 2022, focused on the 13th Century grade1 listed historic church building. It transformed the church building into a resource and hub for the local community, and we are achieving our aim that the building should be in use every day of the week. The success of the BTP1 project has highlighted issues with the toilet facilities, installed in an extension building in 1979, which are in very poor condition and inadequate for church and community events frequently attended by up to 300 people. In addition the corridor which connects the toilets to the church hall and the main entrance for events is not a level surface and has a step access to both the toilets and the office. The building work will increase the number of toilets from 3 to 5, and bring them up to modern standards, as well as levelling the corridor surfaces and adding storage space. The project will also include an accessible WC and new accessible entrance door, which will be funded by other donors.
Thousands of people of all ages, both local and visitors to Ely, attend the events that take place within the premises or come to wander around looking at the history, architecture and beauty of the building or just to sit and be still. We have consulted widely with regular users and groups including Ely Youth Choir; VocEly Community Choir; Bumbly Bees music group for pre-school children; Oasis Cancer Support group, Under 1s and under 5s groups for young children and their adults; "Jam-Packed” for primary school children; Pathfinders for secondary school children, Table tennis group encouraging fitness among older people; A weekly coffee morning for the local community where children and young adults from an Ely Special School are among those who are welcomed; “Open Space – a weekly drop in for free refreshments, chat, tabletop games and art and craft activities; Ely & District CAP – Debt Advice charity; U3A Gilbert and Sullivan group; Elderberries” for senior citizens; Bereavement café, Creative Minds which promotes positive mental wellbeing through art and craft; Inner Wheel.
Others who will benefit are regular worshippers, tourists, and people attending cultural and community events – over 25 in the last year- including concerts, book launches and Ely Arts Festival, and attendees at Receptions following weddings, baptisms & funerals.