A bid to create a new community centre in Spalding has been given a boost by a university.
Project St Thomas is looking to transform the former Spalding Methodist Church into a focal point of the community.
The process has been granted 16 days of academic support from the University of Lincoln’s Productivity Programme Voucher Scheme.
The project will work with staff from the University’s Lincoln International Business School to explore the feasibility of potential activities that were identified through the extensive community consultation carried out by Sortified in October 2022.
It’s in-line with the need to preserve the historic fabric of the former Methodist chapel, as advised by PDG Architects Ltd.
The project involves working closely with the Project St Thomas Committee to build on the work carried out by Sortified and PDG Architects Ltd, which is funded by The National Lottery Heritage fund.
Work will include working in partnership with the committee to measure the proposed activities suggested by people who engaged in the community consultation against an evaluative framework to agree a shortlist of activities for an in-depth feasibility study, the production of a feasibility report with recommendations on which of the proposed activities could be delivered effectively.
Dr Abigail Hunt, Associate Professor Lincoln International Business School and Project Lead for the University, said: “It is fantastic to be working with Project St Thomas to see the former Methodist Chapel on St Thomas’ Road being brought back into use for the benefit of the local community.
“We are building on the excellent work undertaken by Sortified and Paul Thompson Architects Ltd, which was funded by The National Heritage Lottery fund earlier this year to develop a clear way forward for further funding bids that will help the committee realise their ambitions for the building.”
Anthony Grunwell, who is the chairman of the Committee for Project St. Thomas said: “We are really thrilled and excited to be working with the University of Lincoln International Business School.
“Their expertise and experience is invaluable in helping the team at Project St Thomas to take the next steps towards delivering the services and activities that local people have told us they need during the community consultation. And this is all thanks to the University of Lincoln’s Productivity Programme Voucher Scheme.”
