Appeal

The cost of our refurbishment is around £900,000.

Our strategy has been threefold.

Raising the first £25,000
So we set ourselves to raise £25,000 in the seven months to Easter 2009. This was a large target - about £500 per member; and in 2006 the congregation had raised £20,000 towards the roof repair.

Our programme of special events in 2008/09 included:
raised
Dec 9 Christmas Concert £289

Jan 24 Burns Night Dinner £162

Feb 28 St David’s Night £390

Mar 28 50s & 60s Evening £143

Apr 23 St George’s Day Concert £101

Other efforts
(each sum raised includes Gift Aid)

Nov 30  Sale of church Christmas presents
             (on the lines of 'Give a goat to Africa')
             Target:                                   £1,000
             Raised:                                   £1,503

Dec 2    Knit & Chat Knit-In
             To knit 11 comfort dolls for Malawi              Raised:                                     £500
             (see above)

Dec 16 Boxing Day Swim in the sea
           Target:                                    £2,000
            Raised:                                    £3,930

This target had two objectives - one was to show that the congregation was heart and soul behind the proposals by the generosity of its giving; the other was to provide seed capital for developing the project, because the task requires professionals in architecture, conservation and grant applications. As we started the appeal we were immensely encouraged by an offer to provide £4 for every £1 we raised if we got to £25,000 by the target date. Many friends rallied round so that we could take advantage of this unique offer, and we exceeded our target by Easter Day by about £250.

The total means that we have considerable resources to match-fund the grant application where necessary.

Putting the case together
Any successful planning application to alter a Grade 2 listed building needs to demonstrate that there is a Need; that what is proposed does not alter the Significance of the building; that there is a plan to raise the necessary capital; and that the proposed use is financially viable. In our case we have also had to employ lawyers to draw up the lease which the Strand Community Trust will have on the building and to present a Scheme for this to the Charity Commission. We were, however, ourselves able to register the Strand Community Trust and its operating subsidiary. The Strand Operating Company Ltd, saving over £7,000. We have been blessed by gathering a team of highly qualified architects for the building and for the conservation and a grant advisor with an outstanding track record in this area. (For full details see Buildings).

Seeking grants
The work of seeing grants began in July 2010. We anticipate it will probably take us 18 months at least to raise what we require.

The fun part of raising money as working to get £25,000. Here are some of the ways we did it.

Children and young people

Our policy

We believe that the church is the Body of Christ, made up of people of all ages. We actively welcome children at our services when children have activities suitable for their ages and there is a ‘children’s address’.

We are also committed to new forms of engaging with children, as our involvement in Messy Church shows.

Sundays

Currently we do not have a Junior Church, though provision is always made for children who come. Appropriate relevant activities are available, and

Parents & Toddlers Group

We run a weekly Parents & Toddlers Group (Wednesdays 10.00-12.00) which provides structured activities for children and a chance for parents to chat and support one another.

For details email enquiries@Dawlish URC

MESSY CHURCH

The youth leaders of the Methodist and URC Churches, concerned at low numbers in their Junion Churches, decided to cooperate to run a monthly after-school club on Fridays. Inspired by reports of the success of Messy Church in several local URC congregations, they decided to adopt the Messy Church format.

The first Messy Church was held in January with 35 children were present in the Methodist Church hall. Ever since the pattern has been the same: as the children arrive there are board games to enjoy. Then the group gathers together to hear about the theme for the day, which always involves the opportunity to try various crafts around the theme for about an hour. Then there is worship for 15 minutes before before everyone sits down to a delicious hot tea which usually includes chips, and is always followed by cake and fruit.

One of the features of Messy Church is the encouragement to parents to stay and become involved with the children, including sharing in the worship. An increasing number are now doing this.

The dates for Messy Church until the summer are: 20th June and 18th July, each starting zt 3.45 and ending at 6.00. For further details email Marie Whitehead on phone 01626 889 098.

The URC Youth Leader, Marie Whitehead, said "It's really exciting, with the children loving it and parents joining in. If numbers continue to grow we will need to divide into two groups."

Children and young people

Our policy

We are also committed to new forms of engaging with children, as our involvement in Messy Church shows.

Sundays

Currently we do not have a Junior Church, though provision is always made for children who come. Appropriate relevant activities are available, and

Parents & Toddlers Group

We run a weekly Parents & Toddlers Group (Wednesdays 10.00-12.00) which provides structured activities for children and a chance for parents to chat and support one another.

For details email enquiries@Dawlish URC

MESSY CHURCH

One of the features of Messy Church is the encouragement to parents to stay and become involved with the children, including sharing in the worship. An increasing number are now doing this.

The dates for Messy Church until the summer are: 20th June and 18th July, each starting zt 3.45 and ending at 6.00. For further details email Marie Whitehead on phone 01626 889 098.

The URC Youth Leader, Marie Whitehead, said "It's really exciting, with the children loving it and parents joining in. If numbers continue to grow we will need to divide into two groups."

Boxing Day sponsored swim in the sea

The local daily paper reported at Dawlish beach yesterday [Boxing Day], hundreds went for a dip to raise money for the United Reformed Church's refurbishment appeal. Other Christmas swims took place on beaches at Exmouth, Sidmouth and Charleston."

This was a slight exaggeration. Five hardy women (no men dared to have a go) swam for about ten minutes in the sea. The sun shone from a cloudless sky, but there was a bitter south east wind which not only chilled the spectators but whipped up quite a surf. The tide was at its lowest, so there was a long walk to get up to waist deep, but the swimmers were undaunted.

Following the example of Teignmouth, the next town along the coast, which has a Boxing Day splash (a paddle, not real immersion), our swimmers decided to dress up. So two went as sheep (one lost, one black) and the other two appeared as Little Bo Peep and Old Mother Hubbard, which added to the fun and entertained the 60 plus spectators who came to cheer the swimmers on.

On swimmer confessed "I'm was terrified getting in, but I said to myself, if I can raise enough money it will be worth it - I suppose." The church's minister, Revd Roger Whitehead, commented, "In case you wonder why I was not doing it as well, sadly I felt I needed to be there on the beach with the soup and brandy - soup for the swimmers and the brandy for me." Two lads served Christmas mulled wine and coffee for the spectators and provided soup for the swimmers. In the end only two swimmers reached for the brandy!

The total raised exceeds £3,500 – and, with Gift Aid and the “4 for 1” support, the morning was worth over £20,000 for our refurbishment fund!

You can see a video of the event
We are grateful to Ted Barolw for taking a video of the event. It’s a bit noisy because of the wind but fun to watch - just click here http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=UnQ04cKZTjQ