Funding towards repairs and improvements to a well-used community hub has been approved by Surrey Heath Borough Council Executive.
£90,000 has been granted to High Cross Church in Camberley from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Fund to be used towards roof replacement, ventilation and insulation improvements and solar panel installation. The CIL Fund contribution represents 5% of the total project cost.
CIL funding consists of ringfenced payments made by developers for development taking place in the borough. The money is used to help build and improve the infrastructure our communities need to grow and thrive.
High Cross Church, located in Town ward which has seen substantial development, plays a key role as a community hub. Around 1,500 local people use the building each week for a wide range of activities and groups including toddler sessions, counselling services, music therapy, civic events, local groups and charity meetings, Youth Council meetings and work placements for local schools.
The Church hires out space based on commercial and charitable rates. Free hires are offered where there is a wider community benefit, such as facilitating groups for baby and toddler sessions, Melody for the Mind dementia sessions and groups for those with Parkinson’s disease.
The cafe at High Cross provides support for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities through employment and work experience placements.
Demonstrating its status as an important community hub, around 9 out of 10 groups using the premises Monday-Saturday are non-faith-based, with Sunday’s users primarily faith-based.
The lead roof has been leaking for some time, affecting the use of the facilities by the various groups and attendees. Poor insulation and lack of ventilation have exacerbated the problem. The installation of solar panels will reduce the Church’s reliance on non-renewable energy sources, lowering its carbon footprint and energy costs to help the Church remain financially sustainable.
The CIL grant makes up 5% of the total cost of the project, with the balance of funding coming from other third-party organisations, including the United Reform Church and Methodist Church, church reserves, an endowment fund and other local fundraising activities.
Surrey Heath Portfolio Holder for Built Environment and Regulation Cllr Alan Ashbery said: “In recent years we have awarded CIL grants to a wide range of community spaces and churches across the borough, and this funding will help support the long-term sustainability of a key community hub in Camberley.
“Alongside its faith-based activities held mainly on a Sunday, High Cross’s town centre location and high footfall make it a valuable community asset which hosts a wide range of local charities and groups through the rest of the week. Those benefitting from the facilities range from babies to the elderly, along with those with health conditions and special needs.
“This grant aligns with many of our council priorities, including promoting healthier and more inclusive communities, facilitating a flourishing voluntary sector, supporting those in greatest need, and promoting renewable and low carbon energy across the borough.
“In these financially challenging times, it is important to stress that the grant will come from the developer-funded Community Infrastructure Fund, rather than day-to-day council budgets.”