Buildings Offering Sunday - 13th July 2008

As reported in last month’s New Community Life, it is four years since we launched the Central Hall Development Fund. We have been able to achieve so much through the generous and committed
giving of so many of our church community.

Sunday 13th July, 2008, will be an opportunity for those who are part of New Community to
contribute further to this fund as well as contribute towards the development of Aster House on the Flowers Estate. For those who are part of New Community Eastleigh the offering will be directed towards the Eastleigh Building Fund.

Central Hall
We are committed to making Central Hall:
A venue for the church to gather.
A venue for training and equipping.
A venue that serves our community.

We have drawn up plans for improvements to the toilet facilities to include more disabled provision, refurbishment of the various ancillary rooms, replacing the existing electrical heating with gas-fired heating and providing child friendly, low surface-temperature radiators.

The development of Central Coffee has enabled us to open the building to the whole community
much more. We are seeking to extend its hours further as well as developing the work of the Community Cafe, which we feel will be a key part of the development of Central Hall into the future.

Aster House
Aster House is used extensively for the work that we do through Flower of Justice for the people of the Flower Estate in Swaythling. Its weekly activities include the Club Zion Youth Work, Men's Breakfasts, Women's Meetings, Children's Clubs and Sunday Morning Services as well as one off events.

Unfortunately the building is often the target for vandalism, though attempts have been made to reduce this. We need to replace many of the windows and protect them with shutters as well as redecorate inside. Aster House and Flower of Justice is well thought of by the local community, but it would be great to improve the present facilities to enhance existing activities as well as opening
it more often to the community it supports.

Eastleigh
New Community Eastleigh is looking to move out of Barton Peveril College and has various options that we are pursuing at present in consultation with Eastleigh Borough Council in order to increase our community activity.

One of these discussions involves the trustees of the Beatrice Royal about the possibility of re-entering negotiations to purchase. A team has been round to view and we await documents before presenting to the trustees.