PROJECT Gateway blog - APRIL 2024
GET INVOLVED
Welcome to the April edition of the Gateway Blog. I’m Peter Wichmann, one of the members of the Project Board that are helping to steer the project. I’ve been a member of Christ Church since the early 1970s, and as someone who remembers the major programme from 1990 that transformed the building for the modern town back then, I am excited at the plans God has for us to respond to the emerging needs of the town again.
Read on to find out how you can get involved in supporting the project in the coming month.
Improved accessibility
We have been working with the architects and other specialists to refine and develop the plans. A big decision has been made to make the new Youth and Community Centre all on the same level (by lowering the floor in the existing vestry area) which means no complicated lifts and steps at that end of the building. On the ground floor the bookshop space has been reconfigured so that it can operate as an additional usable space out of shop hours – you can see some graphics here that show what we have in mind.
Support our Youth & Community Centre grant application
Meanwhile our fundraising continues apace. Thanks to the great work that Walter and the finance team are doing, we were thrilled to hear that we are through to the second stage of the application for a £495,000 grant from Your Fund Surrey (YFS). We need to show the community's support for the project so please use the QR code or go to the Gateway webpage link to add your support – and ask others for their support as well. This is your opportunity to say how YOU feel the Youth & Community Centre can make a difference in people’s lives in Woking before the poll closes on the 12th April 2024.
Join the Fundraising Fun!
We are also having a fundraising event on 11th May at Christ Church to have fun and raise money for Gateway and also the youth mission trip to visit Turning Point in Kibera (another cause that is very important to me). From 6pm to 7.30pm there will be “fairground” style events, then later on drinks, snacks, an all-age quiz and a live band.
The team are continuing to push on the various aspects of the plan (fundraising, design, approvals, etc.) to enable us to get to the stage when we can go out to contract with builders – so watch this space for further news.
NEWS UPDATE - our Faculty application (listed building permission for churches) has been approved!!
Find out more
If you want more information about the project, or to find out how you can support it financially, take a look at our Gateway pages on ChristChurch’s website, or you can chat to any of the members of the team: Adrian Beavis (Vicar), Steve Roberts (Project Leader), Walter Coxon (Finance), Mike Pearce (Technical), Peter Wichmann (CCW building knowledge and expertise), Rachael Purvis (Project Coordinator). If you’d like to email us with a specific query you can do so at this email address: gateway@ccwoking.org.