Making it Happen at Graylingwell Chapel

by Chichester Community Development Trust in Chichester, England, United Kingdom

Total raised £30,446

raised so far

+ est. £1730.25 Gift Aid

109

supporters

The Chapel – A space to learn, live and connect. A café; meeting spaces; a heritage site; an events space and a children’s play area.

by Chichester Community Development Trust in Chichester, England, United Kingdom

We're still collecting donations

On the 16th December 2021 we'd raised £30,396 with 108 supporters in 42 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.

 New stretch target

We are now aiming for our stretch goal of £30,000, with this we will be able to invest in the sound and lighting systems that will empower our incredible local talent to project their performances and realise their potential, showcasing the huge young and emerging talent that needs somewhere to perform, as well as encourage big names to perform in our local space.  

We will be able to buy the AV, lighting and screen infrastructure to create the most incredible events experience just for you.  Chichester needs somewhere that makes live music, comedy and performances accessible to everybody – with your help we can make that happen!


We just need to take one step to feeling better, and we can change everything.  

 

Having a space to connect with others has never been more important. A space to be with friends and family, or sometimes to simply ‘be’ but amongst others. The Chapel provides a space for people to connect, a space for families, for friends, for those feeling alone, gives performers a voice and the community somewhere to be heard. But we need your help in order to open the doors. We’re so close.


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Chichester Community Development Trust (CCDT) has spent the last 5 years working on raising funds; securing planning permission; developing drawings and plans to transform The Chapel into a new community venue in the heart of the development at Graylingwell Park. The Chapel will open its doors to everybody in February 2022, with a café; a space to meet; a space to share and come together with friends and family; a pre-school play area and exciting events space.


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The Chapel will be your space.  Here’s how…


Days in:

The Chapel at Graylingwell Park was a space of sanctuary for patients and staff at Graylingwell Hospital – previously the West Sussex County Asylum. Long since closed, the ethos of supporting mental health will still run through the core of all that we do at The Chapel, working hard to find ways to help us all feel better, particularly after the difficult months the pandemic has brought.  The café, meetings rooms and wide-open space will offer daytime activities including:

  • Family story times
  • Art workshops
  • A café providing hot and cold food
  • Schools programmes
  • Baking buddies
  • Intergenerational activities
  • Drama workshops
  • Heritage talks
  • And much more

Evenings out:

Whatever makes you feel better - laughing till your sides hurt, listening to live music that you love or hearing the inspiring stories of people who have taken one step to a better life - the Chapel will offer this space for you. A space that simply doesn’t exist in Chichester until now. With your financial support we will be able to provide evenings for everybody, regardless of age or circumstances, such as:

  • Live music,
  • Comedy,
  • Performances
  • ‘Evenings with..’

All at a price that is accessible, including regular free-to-attend performances. 


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What have we done so far?

As an independent charity we have raised enough funds through blood, sweat and a few tears to convert the disused chapel of Chichester’s now closed Graylingwell Hospital. We have been hit with bad weather, COVID and huge rising costs of materials and we are so close to opening but we need your help to take the final step. The building work will be complete in February 2022 but we need support to buy furniture and the fixtures needed to welcome you to your space – please help us by investing in the chairs, tables, screens and more to bring it to life, and in return you will receive a massive virtual Thank You hug from us (plus a reward, you choose which one)!


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Helping us, helps so many more

CCDT works with many organisations around Chichester all of which help people in need of support to take one step at a time towards a better life. They will use the spaces in The Chapel to continue their work – offering workshops, delivering performances and connecting with the wider community.  By helping us, you will be helping them too, as they need the tables, chairs and equipment to make it happen.

Organisations like Think Out, who help young adults with complex learning and physical needs to become an integral part of our wider community, learning life skills and sampling new experiences. Their volunteering and activities require the furniture and technology we are raising funds for.  

We work with organisations supporting performers as they grow into tomorrow’s stars, such as Ovation Music’s charity helping young people develop careers and interest in music, creating rock and jazz bands. Dramatis helps adults and young people with their performance skills, simultaneously building their confidence, and communications skills.  

 

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What difference will your donation make?

If we hit our main target, and secure £20,000 in funding we will be able to provide all the chairs, sofas, tables and learning resources to create both an informal space for the day and more casual evening events, and a theatre style seating to host 175 people for our larger events such as comedy nights and ‘Evening’s With’ some of our much loved and inspiring British personalities.

 

And our Stretch Goal?

If we go beyond this and hit our stretch goal of £50,000 we will also be able to purchase the AV, lighting and screen infrastructure to create the most incredible events experience.  We will be able to bring you high quality sound and lighting making our events stand out just for you.  It will create an atmosphere that will encourage big names to perform in our local space, and empower local talent to project their performances and reach their potential.  

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If we take one step... A little bit closer... We can make an impact. We can make a difference right away.

 

The Chapel is your space. It is a space to wander and wonder, a space to seek and explore, a space to dream. It’s space to connect and learn. It is a space to discover, it is a space to care, share and smile. It is a space to invent, a space to aspire and inspire. It is a space to relax and enjoy. A space to believe, a space to think and imagine. It’s a space to browse, a space to reflect and peruse, a space to begin and succeed. 

We cannot wait to show you around.


Rewards

This project offered rewards

£40 or more

FRIEND OF THE CHAPEL

Becoming a friend of The Chapel will give you many benefits in the future. These include 10% discount in the cafe, priority booking on selected events, discount on selected events, E-newsletters, exclusive friends events and activities, programme brochure mail out. £40 provides all benefits for one year.

£5 or more

THANK YOU FROM THE TEAM AT CCDT

You can get a personalised thank you from the team at CCDT

£10 or more

Beneath the Water Tower book

Beneath the Water Tower: Graylingwell Heritage Project book (Printed publication). This book brings together the stories and voices of Graylingwell Hospital by weaving together research, oral history memories, inspired fiction, and contemporary artistic responses to understand the lives that were lived over the course of a century beneath the water tower.

£20 or more

GRAYLINGWELL CHAPEL POSTER

Great chance to get yourself a poster of the amazing Graylingwell Chapel. The poster can be previewed on our website. Measuring at 420mm x 297mm A3 digital print on 200gsm satin paper.

£20 or more

CROWD PARTY

Join us for a very special, limited access party at The Chapel. Featuring the fantastic 100 Monkeys band, supported by other incredible local performances and fizz on arrival is included. Event happening on 12th March.

£20 or more

HOST COFFEE TASTER

HOST is Chichester’s local, independent coffee roaster and for one day are delighted to support the Chapel project and talk coffee. This reward is for an intimate group of ten people, or five pairs. It will be a fun Sunday morning of coffee tastings and tips on how to get the best on home brewing.

£50 or more

SPONSOR A CHAIR

Do you want your name to be a part of The Chapel? Sponsor a chair and that chair will have your name on it and will be a part of the building for years to come! As well as being added as a funder to the acknowledgment wall.

£50 or more

SPONSOR A MEETING ROOM CHAIR

Do you want your name to be a part of The Chapel? Then sponsor a meeting room chair and that chair will have your name on it and will be a part of the building for years to come! As well as being added as a funder to the acknowledgment wall.

£60 or more

FRIEND OF THE CHAPEL FOR 2

Becoming a friend of The Chapel will give you many benefits in the future. These include 10% discount in the cafe, priority booking on selected events, discount on selected events, E-newsletters, exclusive friends events and activities, programme brochure mail out. This deal includes a discount when you buy for two instead of a single purchase.

£100 or more

PRE LAUNCH DRINKS AND CANAPES WITH A SHOWING

Invitation to a very special pre-launch event. We will be providing drinks, canapés and you will get a tour of the chapel before it is open to the public. This means that you will be one of the very first people to see this amazing new space.

£250 or more

CHILDRENS STORY AREA

Please help us by supporting our pre school children's story area. The funding will support the purchase of books, interactive stores, toys, games and puzzles.

£500 or more

PATRON CIRCLE FOR THE CHAPEL

Joining the limited VIP experience and patrons circle, limited to only 20 people. Buying a space in the patrons circle will give you an amazing chance to meet the celebrities and guests performing at the Chapel. With backstage passes and meet and greets. You will also be given one pair of tickets a year for any event of your choice. Invitations to all events held at the Chapel. As well as being added as a Patron to the acknowledgment wall.

£500 or more

SPONSOR AN ARMCHAIR

Do you want your name to be a part of The Chapel? Then sponsor an armchair and that armchair will have your name on it and will be a part of the building for years to come! As well as being added as a funder to the acknowledgment wall.

£500 or more

ORAL HISTORY POSTS

Support our stories. This funding will help support us to tell the stories of the past patients, staff and families at the former hospital and will support with the purchase of MP3 players, headphones and software to listen to the stories.

£1,000 or more

SPONSOR A SOFA

Do you want your name to be a part of The Chapel? Then sponsor a sofa and that sofa will have your name on it and will be a part of the building for years to come! As well as being added as a funder to the acknowledgment wall.

£5,000 or more

SPONSOR A LEARNING AND CREATIVE ROOM

Sponsor one of the two meeting/learning and creative rooms, this will allow you to name one of the rooms after your business or a name of your choice (provided it is appropriate).

£100 or more

SPONSOR A TABLE

Do you want your name to be a part of The Chapel? Then sponsor a table and that table will have your name on it and will be a part of the building for years to come!. Only 15 tables available. As well as being added as a funder to the acknowledgment wall.

£250 or more

SPONSOR A MEETING ROOM TABLE

Do you want your name to be a part of The Chapel? Then sponsor a meeting room table and that table will have your name on it and will be a part of the building for years to come! As well as being added as a funder to the acknowledgment wall.

Show your support

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