Benefits to the Community
General Benefits
It is hoped that this page will help to clarify how the improvements to St. Stephen’s will benefit the local community.
Primarily, the proposed improvements will ensure that the church building, which has survived hundreds of years, survives hundreds more; not just as a building but as a part of the community that is used and loved.
Also, the improvements will make the building suitable for more events. If there is heating, the old and young will enjoy attending services and functions in the winter, without having to wear their whole wardrobe. The advantage of having toilets does not need explanation!
Specific Beneficiaries
About 200 people living and working in the area have expressed a direct interest in the project following our first round of consultation plus about 25 people involved in consultation, planning and fundraising will benefit immediately.
A wider social range and greater number of the population, around 1000, will benefit after the building is adapted for their use. Beneficiaries will gradually become more socially mixed and representative of the wider community and interests.
Local historians, writers, artists, students and others offering services, including family support, will benefit and the existing small congregation of users of the C of E religious services will also benefit from the upgrading of the building but this has been discounted in the project budget.
The Village Hall and Playing Field, which provide sport and recreational facilities, playgroups and meeting rooms, the local residential home for handicapped adults and the local school will benefit from the project by way of access to the resource and collaboration on activities.
Feed-
If you wish to comment on any aspect of these plans for the future, please feel free to email us via the St. Stephen’s email address on the Contact page.
Lympne Church Project Group