The redevelopment of Ashbourne Methodist Church’s buildings to form a new community hub has moved a step closer as we’ve recently passed a significant milestone.
We have now secured over £1m of match funding for the project. This represents a huge amount of work over many years and is testament to the support that the project has received.
Our church, which is a registered charity, has committed to raising £1.4m in match funding for the project which will transform the buildings into a multi-purpose community building. The redevelopment is one of the key project areas of the ‘Ashbourne Reborn’ transformation programme, which will receive Levelling Up Funding from central government. The church’s matched funding was a significant factor in Ashbourne being awarded Levelling Up Funding.
Church partners have contributed funding and expertise to support and deliver the proposals, which will see the building of a new foyer linking three current buildings into one accessible suite, creating a flexible performance, events and worship space. Meeting rooms of various sizes will be developed for community and business use, and the Gateway Centre will be remodelled to provide affordable quality visitor accommodation, to attract visitors to the town. The Cornerstone Coffee House will be upgraded and a community garden created.
We are grateful to local church members & friends for their generous giving which has raised nearly £520,000, as well as to the many grant-making organisations and other organisations who have supported us. These include Ashbourne Circuit, Benefact Trust, Edward Cadbury Trust, Gibbs Charitable Trust, Hunter Rowe, Longcliffe Quarries, Norwood and Newton Settlement, Nottingham and Derby District Advance Fund, Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP), Woodroffe Benton Foundation, and a generous donation from a Trust that does not want to publicly disclose its name. We have also been offered a generous loan by Tissington Chapel and have secured nearly £470,000 through these grants and loan. We continue to apply for more grants.
More information about The Link Project is available on the church’s website www.ashbournemethodist.org.uk/link
