Our Lady & St. Helen’s

Parish Hall, 1974 - 2009

A presentation by the Parish Pastoral Council and Fabric & Finance Committee

Some current uses

Sunday cafe

HELPING HANDSYouth club

1st Friday Coffee Morning

YogaParents’ meetings

Prayer Group

Children’s liturgy

Some problems• Age – maintenance required• Costs – heat, light, repairs• Lack of income generated• Poor kitchen facilities• Poor seating/table facilities• No formal hall keeper• No formal cleaning arrangements• Low capacity

Existing layout

Existing look

Key questions

• Do we carry out a cosmetic job (paint, clean , generally freshen up) to continue existing usage?

• Or – do we carry out a major refurbishment to bring up to modern standards and encourage greater usage?

Some possible additional uses

• Simple funeral catering• Christenings• 1st Communions• Birthday parties – children or adults?

What others have done

What others have done

Some initial thoughts

Some initial thoughts

And a couple more

Slightly more developed

Before we can proceed

• Finances– Costs can’t be known until exact work determined– Archdiocese has approved fundraising but

• Funds first before contract• No borrowing?• Must approve plans before we contract work

Timescale

• Unknown– Dependent on

• Final plans• Costing• Fundraising

• Aim– To be in use in time for parish 40 years

celebrations in 2014– Or sooner?

Next Steps

• If proceeding– Establish a fundraising committee to work with

Fabric and Finance Committee– Take on board your views– Plans to be finalised and costed– Put out to tender

Will it work?• Will parishioners buy the concept

– by taking part in fundraising?– by using the facilities?

• Your views required– In discussion tonight– By completion of questionnaire– By email:

• olshhouse@dsl.pipex.com

– Via website• www.ourladyandsthelen.org