Case study

Hope grows to support a welsh community

A project funded by CAF Bank proves that a church is not just a place for worship, but can also be a pivotal hub for the community.

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Hope Church in Newtown, Wales, has received a £1.6 million secured loan from CAF Bank to redevelop its facilities and extend its community-based activities.

The Church not only hosts church services, but also runs a full-time day nursery for those who can’t afford childcare costs, as well as daytime activities for parents and toddlers, children and the elderly.

But most of the activities have been in great demand and had waiting lists due to the size and restrictions of their previous building.

Now, staff at the church hope the funding and the redevelopment of its building will help extend its reach, with more community-based activities on offer – all under the same roof.

The church will be transformed into a three-storey building, with one of the floors solely dedicated to the nursery, increasing its provision from 30 to 50 children.

Hope Church's building redevelopment will help it host more community-based activities.

"Empathy with our vision and ethos"

Speaking about the venture, the Operations Pastor at Hope Church, Avril Morgan, said CAF Bank’s support has been invaluable. 

She said: “They have truly been a huge help. And they have been with us from the very beginning.”

She said the group started developing designs and plans for the redevelopment project in 2013, and had found a contractor to help them carry out the project.

But after the contractor went into administration, the Church had to quickly come up with a solution.

What followed was a long re-tendering process, through which the Church and CAF Bank remained in contact, agreeing changes to the loan structure and ensuring an effective collaboration.

Mrs Morgan added: “There were many unknowns at that point but I have to say that our relationship with CAF Bank has been fantastic. They have really had so much empathy with our vision and ethos.”

She said the new building will help support the wider community and families, not just children or older people, adding:  “Some of the people we help could be those who struggle to get a job because they don’t have a CV for instance, or we could offer workshops on parenting skills.”

Financing your plans

If your church is planning to expand its reach or upgrade its facilities, contact our charity loan experts for a free consultation.

For more information on the types of repayable finance available, download CAF's Financing the Future guide.

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