Make St Nicks environmentally fit for the future!

Aim

To re-roof the community room and replace the inefficient heating system at St Nick's to get us environmentally fit for tomorrow!

****THANK YOU**** to everyone who has contributed so far.  We are so grateful for your support.  This will make a real difference to the Dunnington Community and our ambitions to become much greener. Please do feel free to continue to donate to the project - all funds will be put to good use helping to get us environmentally fit for the future!!

So...what are we trying to achieve?

At St Nicks Church in Dunnington, a small group of committed volunteers have taken on the task of raising funds to re-roof the well-used community room attached to the historic church and to replace the sadly inefficient heating system throughout the building.  This is no small task and we really need all the support we can get and would be so grateful to be supported by the company who also offer employment to people in our community!  

We want our new heating system to be a real beacon of environmental excellence which can benefit our own community and give an example of what can be achieved by other communities looking after similar buildings.  

What will we use any funds raised from the Community Fund for?

We hope to install a smart controller so we only have heating on in areas of the building that are actually being used (such a simple idea!) and also, so we don't need to put the heating on several hours before the space is needed (reducing energy costs so we can re-invest in other activities.)  We have raised a substantial amount from the community and other sources already and need  a final push to get the project over the line.

Who benefits?

This is a real opportunity to keep important community work going whilst reducing the environmental impact we have with our energy use.  These improvements will enable us to give a real warm welcome to the existing community group users. For example, the “Little People” Toddler Group, “Fun, Food and Fellowship” activities for the elderly, a bereavement café, and groups such as Art, Sewing and Yoga. 

There is a real buzz on how we can make fuller use of the buildings which is even more important after COVID and the closure of other community spaces in our village.   Ideas include having a regular fair of organisations who could help the villagers; activities to help those with Dementia; and support to carers.  With more people coming into the church buildings, there will be an excellent opportunity to explain the heritage of the building and to seek further ideas on how we can best serve the community. 

What do our users say?

The Church buildings offer a lovely space for the community to come together at obvious times like  Remembrance Day and the Christmas services but also through the year at Little People, Messy Church and  Children's Birthday parties.  I feel proud that our community has a space to offer comfort and fellowship to all ages in our village especially after the last 2 years.  I think it is so important that we learn to look after these buildings in a way that allows us to reduce their environmental impact and maximise their uses to the community. Gemma Harper (Dunnington Villager and Aviva Employee !!)

This project successfully funded on 28th June 2022