Response from AA about use of our premises.
Activities Provided: Weekly one hour meeting on Monday 7pm.
Average attendance: 10-20 each week.
“To be able to utilise the church every week for the purpose of our AA meetings is a Godsend. We have members who come every week who are sustaining long-term sobriety, and new members come for the first time who are still drinking and seeking support and help to overcome alcoholism. To be a place of salvation for ourselves and for others is appreciated more than words can describe. We are all incredibly grateful to be able to use this beautiful church.”
Thank you.
Response from Bereavement Support Group.
Activities Provided: Meets twice a month in church hall.
Average attendance: 29 per month.
“Thank you for your approach to Bereavement Support Keynsham, as one of the groups that rents rooms from you. As a community service to those who are bereaved being able to access your ancillary rooms is most important. The premises is ideally located for people to reach from bus stops, car parks, railway station and also on walking. Its location in the heart of the community and on the High Street is great.
Those who attend our drop-in sessions are well pleased with the hall where we meet, and the use of the adjoining kitchen is a bonus.
For our afternoon sessions, we receive up to twenty guests and our evening session up to nine. Because it is an evening session that runs throughout the year it is reassuring to our guests to be able to attend by just stepping in from High Street, which is well lit and with much present traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian to make them feel safe during the winter period.
It is also nice to attend the craft fairs and coffee mornings that you host.”
Alan Hale
Response from Slimming World.
Activities Provided: Meets very Thursday in the hall.
Average attendance: 175-200 people from the local community.
“We provide five sessions throughout the day in order to reach as many people as we possibly can. We provide group work with refreshments in order to educate the public with their weight and health and mental health. Without such a central location for the group at this vital time, when weight loss meds are in the headlines daily, I fear many elderly members would miss out on the support due to travel restrictions due to mobility issues. It is essential that funding is found to keep the church safe for all to use.”
Triana Booker
Response from Age UK.
Activities Provided: Meets every Tuesday and Wednesday 10am-2pm in the hall.
Average attendance: 24 each week.
“A vital facility for our group as a venue with a kitchen and level access/disabled toilets is imperative for our service users. Being based in the High Street with other facilities close is an attraction with ease of access for parking/transport.”
Lorraine Cox
Response from Keynsham Town Council.
I was sorry to hear that the roof of the church sanctuary is in need of major repair work and that the cost to repair the same is so excessive that outside funding is going to be required.
As you are aware, the church building serves not only as a place of worship but also as a valued community resource. The Town Council has been privileged to make use of the facilities for various public meetings, civic events, and community gatherings., including:
• The Winter Festival for refreshment, Christmas related indoor market stalls and in the past a home for our first aid team, security team and lost Children point.
• The Youth Festival (as part of the Music Festival}-your facility providing the green room as a place to rest (for staff when not on duty) and to part take of refreshments
• As a back up facility for Town Council meetings -As you know there are times when we are unable to book our usual facilities for the main Town Council meeting and in particular our Planning and Development Committee meeting (that requires the use of a projector and screen). Numerous times your Sanctuary has hosted our essential meetings.
The space you provide has become a central and inclusive venue for civic engagement and community development.
We recognise that without prompt action, further deterioration could not only compromise the structural integrity of the building but also limit its safe use by both the congregation and the wider community, including the Town Council.
Given the building's importance to the town, the Council fully supports your application for external funding and is willing to provide any necessary documentation or letters of endorsement that may assist in strengthening your application. We understand the challenges posed by the required repairs and appreciate the proactive steps the church is taking to preserve this historic and multifunctional space.
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require formal confirmation of our use of the building.
With sincere thanks for your continued partnership and service to our community.
Yours sincerely
Dawn Drury (Mrs) Town Clerk
Response from ACA* to letter about use of our premises.
(* Adult Children of Alcoholic and Dysfunctional Families)
Activities Provided: Weekly one-hour meeting Thursdays 7.30-8.30pm
Average attendance: 10 each week (20-30 contacts)
Comments:
In choosing a location between Bath and Bristol in order to serve both, Keynsham
was the obvious choice for us because of transport links. Keynsham Baptist Church
was the only venue we could find that provided the accessibility (ground floor) we
were after, as well as facilities such as toilets and drinks-making, and at an
affordable rate. Each ACA group is self-supporting, so rental price is an important
factor because many attendees cannot contribute a lot of money each week. As
such, the availability of Keynsham Baptist Church rooms for rental was a big factor
in our group’s formation and on-going success. We are the only mixed gender ACA
meeting within an hour’s drive and as such are a lifeline for people struggling to
recover from childhood trauma.
We continue to feel gratitude each week for our room and your willingness to offer
an affordable cost, Kevin – many thanks.