Construction company praised for its generous donation

Published by Craig Downs for Frank Haslam Milan in Housing and also in Communities

The prayers of church goers have been answered after a construction company refurbished its facilities free of charge.

Members of the Bethesda Free Church, in South Shields, have spent years trying to find funding to replace their outdated facilities.

But after hearing of the Church’s plight, community regeneration specialists Frank Haslam Milan (FHM) stepped in and offered its expert services – providing a new heating system, installation of all new sanitary ware, new cubicles and a new disabled WC.

Church Member John McConway said the congregation had “prayed long and hard” for a solution to the problem and were delighted with the results.

He said: “After years of trying to raise the funds we needed to carry out the refurbishment, without any success, we were really hoping and praying for a miracle – and that is what we got.

“We approached Frank Haslam Milan to ask if they would carry out the works and their immediate response was to offer to help.  We all feel that our prayers have been answered.”

The Bethesda Free Church, in Victoria Road, was established 134 years ago.  As well as regular church services, the buildings are used by the Boys’ Brigade, the Girls’ Brigade and the Buggy Brigade (the mother and toddler group), as well as for occasional coffee mornings.

However, the Church’s toilets were outdated and did not provide adequate disabled access so Church officers began looking into ways of providing new facilities which would be suitable for all visitors.

After an initial inspection in August last year, work at the Church began in September and was completed in April.  Church members have just undertaken the final part of the makeover – giving the new facilities a fresh lick of paint – which was also provided by FHM.

The Church also provided the sanitary ware for FHM to fix and arranged separate contracts for the electrical work, damp-proofing of an external wall, tiling of the floor and external drainage connections.

FHM’s resident liaison officer, Julie Milne said such community projects were at the heart of what the company stood for.

She said: “Our business is all about working with communities, empowering local people and fostering a great sense of community spirit.

“Projects such as this, allow us to engage with people in the areas in which we work and to make a contribution to local life and activities.

“The Church is a vital part of the local community in South Shields and used by people of all ages and backgrounds and we hope our contribution will make a positive difference for years to come.”

Mark Whittle, Director of Investment for South Tyneside Homes, said: “When our partners are working on sites around the Borough, it is important that they engage with the wider community, as well as transforming the homes and lives of tenants. It is fantastic to see that FHM North East is giving something back in the area where they are currently working and I am sure it will make a huge difference to the people who use this important community facility.”

FHM is working in partnership with South Tyneside Homes to carry its home improvement programme which includes the installation of new kitchens, bathrooms, central heating systems and electrical rewires.  Improvements are currently being undertaken to 120 properties on the West Harton estate and work is expected to be completed at the end of June 2011.