Wymondham Baptist Church Heating Upgrade

Aim

To improve cost-efficiency of the building, unlocking its potential for increased community use by installing an air to air heat pump.

WBC is a small church with a big heart for its local community. 

In 2019, our 39 members adopted a vision to be. 

“an authentic church with a place for everyone.”

Our work is guided by a detailed vision document and mission statement, which provide clear direction for our priorities and activities.

In 2025, we developed and adopted a Reducing Our Carbon Footprint (RCF) project. This initiative demonstrates one of the practical ways in which we are delivering our vision. It focuses on cost‑effective improvements to the efficiency and sustainability of our existing building, supporting our environmental and buildings vision while enhancing our ability to serve the wider community.

WBC delivers a wide range of community services and actively participates in local events, reaching residents who are often missed by other organisations. However, the church hall is outdated and costly to run, which limits our ability to grow and respond to increasing demand. This project will improve the building’s energy efficiency through investment in the heating system, reducing running costs and significantly improving usability.

As a result, the building will be used more frequently and more sustainably, enabling WBC to expand its community activities and help meet the growing need for low cost or free community space in Wymondham.

We own the church building and therefore have permission to undertake the proposed works. While these upgrades would not be necessary if the building were used solely for worship, WBC is committed to using its facilities to support the wider community. This includes opening the building for longer periods and hosting a range of community focused activities and services.

Investment in the existing building is essential to make this ambition affordable, sustainable, and viable in the medium to long term. The requested support will enable WBC to continue and expand community use of the building while keeping ongoing running costs manageable.

The funding will be used to install an energy‑efficient heating system in the church hall using an air‑to‑air heat pump system. This will provide efficient, responsive heating by transferring heat from the surrounding air directly into the building. It is to be a split‑unit system, consisting of a single external air‑source heat pump condenser serving five internal fan units. This system will replace the existing power‑intensive infrared heating, significantly improving energy efficiency and reducing running costs. While this new system is capable of providing cooling, its primary purpose is winter heating, ensuring the hall remains warm, usable, and affordable during the colder months.

WBC has chosen the single outdoor unit option despite higher initial costs, as it offers lower boundary noise (by around 6 dBA), less visual impact, and reduced maintenance and electrical installation costs.

We are ready to instruct the works immediately following receipt of planning permission (expected end March 2026) and any positive decision on this funding application. The works are expected to take approximately 10 days to complete, allowing them to be delivered anytime from end April, depending on when the outcome of the application is received.

Proposed start End April 2026

Proposed end May 2026

Evidence of Need

WBC is committed to serving its community; however, our ability to do so is increasingly constrained by an outdated and inefficient building. The current energy systems are expensive to operate and significantly limit the building’s usability.

Our audited accounts show that we spent approximately £17,000 on electricity in 2024, dropping slightly to £14,000 in 2025 partly due to changing our provider and following some upgrade works we undertook. Electricity is one of our largest costs, second only to our minister’s salary.

As a self‑funding Baptist church, the need for this project is driven by the urgent requirement to reduce rising electricity costs. This project will not only safeguard the sustainability of our existing activities but will also enable us to expand and strengthen our community provision over time.

Expert Validation

During the feasibility stage of the separate extension project, WBC commissioned an Energy Consultant to assess opportunities for reducing energy costs and carbon emissions. A comprehensive report provided clear recommendations which were tailored to the unique characteristics of our building, giving us confidence in the feasibility and impact of the proposed measures. They include:

a) Electricity supply - A church is classified as a business for its energy supplies, resulting in different tariff options and protections than those available to residential customers. The church had two separate electricity supplies, due to part of the building previously being under different ownership. Consolidating to a single three-phase supply simplified energy management, reduced costs, This work was completed in 2025

b) Lighting – All lighting with fluorescent bulbs upgraded to LEDs which was a straightforward and cost-efficient method for decreasing electricity consumption. This work was completed in 2025

c) Heating - The current heating system at WBC mainly uses electric radiant heaters and radiators, which operate by converting 1 kW of electricity into 1 kW of heat. The more recently installed air conditioning unit in the church kitchen, utilising air-to-air heat pump technology, can generate up to 4 kW of heat per 1 kW of electricity, with a seasonal average output of approximately 2 kW. 

By replacing existing heaters with modern heat exchange units, could:

• Reduce electricity usage for heating by up to 50%;
• Improve comfort and temperature control;
• Add cooling capability, helping to future-proof the building against warmer summers.

This is the work we are seeking funding for.

Building Extension Synergy

In the Summer of 2025, WBC began the construction of a separately funded building extension, set to finish in Spring 2026, that will expand services for Wymondham’s growing community and address identified wellbeing needs. Reducing our Carbon Footprint(RCF) project, whilst separate, aligns closely with the extension’s design and goals.

Key features of the extension include:

• Air conditioning units powered by air-to-air heat pumps for low-carbon heating, and maximising energy efficiency,
• Enhanced thermal performance by enclosing old exterior walls,
• Flexible spaces for community groups and service providers.

These upgrades will increase usage and energy demand, making the RCF project crucial for keeping the facility affordable, sustainable, and functional.

The use of our building- Evidence of demand

Loneliness is a problem that WBC first identified whilst supporting the ‘who cares’ public consultation in 2014. Over 50 churches from across Norfolk came together with more than 20,000 answers to the question ‘what hurts the most’ were received. Overwhelmingly, the most common response was loneliness. We continue to see this at first hand and consider it a public health crisis that we want to take action against.

We undertook our own community audit in March 2022 (which we updated in October 2023) exploring the availability of space that can be used by community groups, voluntary organisations or private businesses. Our audit confirmed that the availability of flexible and accessible community space has not increased to support this population growth, despite a clear demand for it. We have researched both local and national data regarding loneliness, gathering information from an array of sources including undertaking questionnaires with our current users. We have identified that an above national average number of residents in South Norfolk reported ‘often or always’ feeling lonely. This would equate to 1,156 people in Wymondham, and the total number of people who are affected by loneliness at some point in their life is so much higher.

WBC is already deeply embedded in the delivery of a wide range of community services and town‑wide events. Since 2019, our Roots Community Café has opened two mornings each week, welcoming 80–100 people through our doors. In addition, we host or support a broad programme of activities, including a Food Bank, Thrive Youth Café, Shelter advice sessions, a men’s mental health group, a free uniform bank, a bereavement support group, youth club, and a Warm Space. We also act as a central hub for many town events, including environmental and eco‑focused initiatives, alongside numerous other activities.

We are proud to have built a strong reputation for supporting people both within and beyond our physical church building, including individuals and families who are often not sufficiently reached by professional services or voluntary, social enterprise (VSE) organisations.

There is clear and growing demand for what we offer. We want to do more to support our community and to enable other groups and organisations, many of whom have already expressed a need to use our building. While the building is temporarily closed during extension works, we continue to receive enquiries from people asking when they will be able to use the space again. 

We know our community needs this support. The funding sought will enable us not only to deliver more in the short term, but to continue providing these essential services in a sustainable way over the medium to long term.

Enhancing Our Environment
This project will enhance the local environment by significantly reducing energy consumption through the installation of a modern, efficient heating system. Initial forecasts indicate a minimum 50% reduction in electricity use within 12 months of completion, leading to lower carbon emissions and a more sustainable community building. The project supports long‑term environmental responsibility and aligns with climate and energy‑reduction priorities.

Growing a Prosperous Economy
By reducing energy costs and improving the efficiency of the building, this project strengthens the long‑term financial sustainability of a key local community asset and directly supports the aim of growing a prosperous local economy. Lower running costs will enable WBC to increase community use of the building, host more activities, and provide low‑cost or free space for local groups, charities, and events, encouraging participation, volunteering, and community‑led activity. By supporting the delivery of local services and early intervention support, the project contributes to the wider social and local economy while helping to reduce pressure on public services, ensuring benefits that are sustainable in the medium to long term.

This is further demonstrated through the projects alignment with:

Wymondham Neighbourhood Plan – Policy 1: Town Centre Vibrancy

WBC is located just off the Market Cross, and increasing the use of the building will result in more people accessing local services and support. This will, in turn, increase footfall in the town centre, helping to support local businesses and enhance the overall vitality and vibrancy of Wymondham’s town centre.

Moving with the Times
The project updates an old and inefficient building, making it more practical, energy‑efficient, and better able to cope with rising energy costs. Investing in a more sustainable heating system brings the building up to date and makes it cheaper and easier to run. This will allow the space to be used more comfortably and more often, helping us meet increasing demand in a growing community.

Enriching Our Communities

WBC provides inclusive community services and reaches people who may be missed by other organisations. By making the building more efficient, affordable, and comfortable, the project removes barriers to wider community use and enables the church to expand its support for local residents. The project also supports community learning through sustainability events and visible environmental action, empowering others to engage with carbon reduction and climate responsibility.

In summary, our project is designed to:

• Reduce energy costs to enable us to increase community use of the building. 
• This increased capacity will allow us to expand services and activities to meet rising demand from Wymondham’s rapidly growing population.
• The building to be available to community groups and local services at low cost or free of charge, supporting affordability and inclusion.
• Help secure the building as a long term community hub, capable of meeting current and future needs in a growing town.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made