Alterations to Mattishall Methodist Church to comply with the disability discrimination act

In October 2003 the church council decided to look at the feasibility of complying with the above act. The building built in 1900 had narrow doors and a step into most rooms. It appeared a daunting task for the 10 members with the cost expected to be between 10 and 15 thousand pounds. An architect was contacted and his estimate was between 16 and 20 thousand. Drawings were commissioned and applications made to several organisations for grant aid. This was a slow process; some grant committees only meet twice a year. The Biffaward application form consisted of 13 pages with difficult questions e.g. what is the area of your nearest landfill site. After much work and waiting Biffaward were very generous and funded 90% of the project as it was at the time the application was made to them.

Breckland District Council visited to see what was being proposed and were very helpful but pointed out the 1977 kitchen, which was not in the scheme, was not up to current standards. It was decided to add the kitchen to the project if funds could be raised, otherwise it would be done at a later date. As the months past the cost continued to rise but also offers of help were received in addition to Biffaward grants were received from The Paul Bassham Trust, Breckland District Council, The Garfield Weston Foundation, The Hunter Rowe Trust, The Beatrice Laing Trust, Lloyds TSB Foundation, The Norwood and Newton Settlement. The members had some funds in hand; Dereham and Swaffham Circuit provided a grant, as did The Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes from Manchester. By the spring of 2005 the funds were in hand. Approvals and quotations were obtained and in July 2005 local builder P.J & L.J Matthews started the building work and finished by the end of October.

The church now has four new white powder coated aluminium doors one metre wide. The car park and the complete inside of the church are on just two levels with a ramp between them. The toilet is wheel chair accessible with colour contrast fittings. The kitchen is completely refitted with cooker, fridge, cabinets and two sinks. The internal ramp, toilet and kitchen have non-slip flooring, the external lighting has been improved and a certificate to BS 7671 issued for the complete building.

The project took two years to complete but people and organisations were very helpful and much improvement has been achieved. People like to tell us we miss out by not having raffles and tombolas but true to the Methodist tradition no lottery money was used and not a single ticket sold to meet the final bill of £33,004.57p.

Fred Garner.