Dyke Parish Church investing £13,173 from FCC Communities Foundation in new toilets as part of ongoing refurbishment

A VILLAGE church has been awarded more than £13,000 to improve its facilities.

Dyke Parish Church will invest the £13,173 grant from the FCC Communities Foundation in new toilets as part of ongoing refurbishment.

Project co-ordinator Martin Harker said the improvements will be a step towards making the church and hall disability-compliant.

He added: “This is part of our vision to make the church a place where all are welcomed. We’re looking forward to the project taking shape over the next three months.”

The aim is to make the building more hospitable, with user-friendly access and improved modern facilities.

In 2017, phase one provided disability compliant access from the village hall car park. A new footpath was constructed, the old churchyard wall rebuilt, fencing erected and lighting installed.

The current phase will provide disability-compliant toilet facilities. This will require the underpinning of the kitchen extension, the conversion into two toilets, provision of baby changing facilities, bringing the fire escape up to standard, making the door soundproof and creating wheelchair spaces in the worship area. The heating, lighting, ventilation, insulating and decorating of the toilet and corridor area will also be part of the work.

Phase three will be the full refurbishment of the church hall.

Grant applications and fundraising are ongoing. The FCC grant will be used for underpinning the foundations of the extension for the toilets. The rest of the works are being funded by other grant providers and the local community.

FCC Communities Foundation senior grant manager, Richard Smith, said: “We’re delighted our funding will make such a difference. We are always happy to consider grant applications for projects that benefit local communities.”