St Andrew's becomes more accessible

The leadership team at St Andrew’s Leam Lane applied to the Parish Grants Fund to improve the accessibility of their church hall. This involved building a ramp into the building and reconfiguring the existing facilities to create an fully-accessible toilet.

The hall is used not only by the church but also by many different groups and hirers from the local community. Rev Rupert reflected sadly in the grant application on the existing situation:

“Charities for those with disabilities, age related mobility and health issues, and groups from social services who have wished to use our hall in the past have been prevented by the lack of a ramp and accessible toilets”.

The project work was completed successfully on time, and as a result,

“Hall users report that they are very pleased with these improvements and we have seen an increase in the use of the hall. A local school now uses the hall on Thursday afternoons for work with in partnership with Gateshead Family Learning. This involves parent/carers and children from very young to the end of key stage 2. Attendance at the community lunches and cookery classes have also increased.”

Rev Rupert believes the benefits will be long-lasting and grow in time. He reports,

“we believe this will help reduce social isolation, build community cohesion and be of particular benefit to those dealing with loneliness, mental health problems and disability. It will help combat poverty by enabling more people to attend the community lunches and cookery classes.”

Finally, other charities and social services will now be able to use the St Andrew’s church hall as it complies with disability legislation, making the church an increased resource for the local community, providing real help for individuals and fostering links between the church and its parishioners.