Bethesda Church in Rhiwbina is to receive £50,000 to improve its building and help tackle loneliness and isolation in the community.
On the recommendation of the National Churches Trust, Bethesda will receive the grant from The Moondance Foundation.
Bethesda is renovating its church building in Tyn-y-Parc Road (pictured) to make it more of a welcoming hub for the community. This will include a new porch with a coffee bar as a place where people can gather and feel included. The work will also address the leaking roof. The kitchen will be reconfigured and replaced to make it more accessible, and new toilets will be added to another small extension.
In May this year, the Office of National Statistics found that over a quarter of adults reported feeling lonely at least some of the time.
The grant is part of an £871,696 urgent funding payout from the charity to help keep churches across the UK open and used.
The church already supports five local schools through assemblies and hosting more than 1,600 pupils in the church annually through various events. It also runs holiday clubs, youth groups, toddler groups and provides practical items to people that are homeless in Cardiff city centre.
The changes made to the building – which will include some roof repairs – will enable it to be used even more by the community and give space for new activities and events that will help bring people together and to combat loneliness.
Claire Walker, chief executive of the National Churches Trust, said: "The National Churches Trust is delighted to be able to support Bethesda to enable them to make their beautiful building more accessible and welcoming through their renovations and repairs. This will help to keep the church building open and serving local people."
"Whether seeking quiet reflection, access to community services or a place to worship, the National Churches Trust helps hundreds of churches each year and with the support of local people, keeps them thriving today and tomorrow."
Mark Bodger, building project lead at Bethesda, said: "We are so thankful to have been awarded a generous grant by the National Churches Trust that will help ensure Bethesda continues to meet the spiritual and physical needs of the local community."
More than 50 churches across the UK will stay open and in good repair thanks to the £871,696 of funding awarded and recommended by the National Churches Trust in this latest round of grants.
The National Churches Trust helps churches through its grants programme to fund urgent repairs, maintenance, installing toilets or kitchens and feasibility studies to develop projects. Full details are at: nationalchurchestrust.org/grants
Bethesda was opened in 1932 as a centre of Christian worship and service. It is an independent church without an ordained minister. Leadership is the responsibility of a number of Elders chosen from within the church.
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