Delves Baptist Community Church launches a £57k funding drive
Worshippers at a church that hosts children's midweek activities have launched a £57,000 fundraising drive to create more toilets and storage space.
Delves Baptist Community Church, on the border of Walsall and West Bromwich, has the green light to extend the building, which has stood in Bell Lane for 63 years.
Leaders want to create a new baby changing area, its first disabled toilets, counselling rooms and storage areas under the proposals for the single storey extension.
Minister the Rev Ruth Wood said: "We have a number of children with disabilities or learning difficulties involved in our activities, and have for a long time been aware that we don't have proper disabled toilets and changing facilities for them. This is also a problem for our older members and visitors, so we decided to redevelop our facilities.
"The Heart of England Baptist Association has given us a loan to get the work going, and we have received a grant from Marston's, which will pay for the paediatric changing bed we need. We are seeking other grants and planning further fundraising events.
"We want to provide the best facilities we can for the people who enjoy our activities and other community groups who use the building. We would also love to reach out to other families with children who have special needs and other vulnerable adults, and our new facilities will open up new possibilities."
The 40 members last year raised £4,000 towards the building project in seven months with events including a sponsored swim, concerts, cream teas and a barn dance. This will be followed by an Irish-themed night featuring band Good Traditions on March 15 at 7.30pm, which also serves the nearby Yew Tree and Tame Bridge estates in Sandwell. The church attracts up to 60 people to midweek activities including two toddler groups, a playgroup and three youth clubs.
Walsall Council's planning department granted permission for the extension in 2012.
