Milestone reached as £4.75M funding bid is submitted
2016 saw the development and submission of our £4.75m application to the Heritage Lottery Fund. On site, the focus was on securing the structure and improving the surrounding landscape. Meanwhile, the development of a virtual reality model of the building will provide exciting new opportunities for interpretation.
The last year has seen our young building preservation trust make huge strides towards securing the necessary funding for the repair and reuse of Dockyard Church. Working with a professional team (led by Simon Hawkins of Glevum Consulting) the Trust has developed a scheme for the repair and reuse of the church which forms the basis of our application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for a major Enterprise Grant. The business plan was produced by Jasmijn Muller of Fourth Street with input from prospective partners The London Youth Support Trust and Innov8 On Sheppey.
Our HLF application was submitted on 8 December 2016 and we will hear in March 2017 whether our bid has been successful. Should we receive a ‘pass’ the project will move up several gears as we develop the scheme in detail and raise match funding ready for delivery in 2018/19. If it goes ahead, this will be a landmark project delivering major cultural, social and economic benefits to Sheerness and the Isle of Sheppey.
Meanwhile, funding continues to arrive from other sources. We are particularly grateful to Swale Borough Council who in November pledged £70,000 towards the project.
Our HLF application (backed by a detailed viability study and a comprehensive business plan) sets out a proposal to save the building and transform it into an innovative and viable business / events centre for the local community, creating a new hybrid incubator & skills centre for local young people. In addition the building will provide a home for the unique and beautiful 19th-century model of Sheerness Dockyard – currently in the care of Historic England – and measuring 40ft square when fully assembled.
Meanwhile, with support from Historic England, our trust has completed a detailed condition survey of the building and has now submitted a separate application for urgent works to stabilise the fabric and prevent further decay. Earlier in 2016 works were carried in the portico of the building to remove loose material and secure against roosting pigeons.
The land behind the church has now been cleared of rubble and re-seeded to provide a large open space for activities and events pending the restoration of the building itself and, excitingly, the trust has taken custody (on loan) of the ‘Room’ mobile arts space – a converted shipping container which will give us a unique place venue for school groups as well as housing our artist in residence programme. We our proud to host Room and look forward to benefitting from its creative energy!
Another exciting project has been a Virtual Reality model of the church, initiated by trustee Chris Foulds and developed by Rupert Lawrence. Viewers require a headset to fully experience the model, but a preview is now available on Facebook. It is hoped that the VR model will become a key interpretation tool both for our outreach work and as part of the display of the great 1820s model once the project is complete.
Lastly, we would like to trustee Andrew Deeley, for creating this splendid new website. You can make a donation quickly and easily through the ‘Donate’ button on the homepage.
So, 2016 has been a year of development and preparation in order to secure the funding needed to secure and transform Dockyard Church. We now find ourselves poised for a great new adventure.
Needless to say we would not be in this position were it not for the the hard work and contributions of time and money from our trustees, supporters and partners. So thank you to everyone who has helped bring us this far.
William Palin
Chair, SDPT
Archive
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Arts
- 16 Aug 2022 Dockyard Church to Open its Doors for Heritage Open Day 16 Aug 2022
- 28 Oct 2020 Discovered fragment foretells fate of burned Church 28 Oct 2020
- 28 Jun 2019 Island Schools Arts Festival Contribute To The Project 28 Jun 2019
- 5 Jul 2018 Participation From Local School Children 5 Jul 2018
- 2 May 2018 Local community interest with the projects draft plans 2 May 2018
- 17 Mar 2017 Tales from the Dockyard Church – reminiscence project 17 Mar 2017
- 6 Jan 2017 SDPT makes room for 'Room' 6 Jan 2017
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Community
- 30 Mar 2024 Trust are elated as the project receives a 2024 Civic Trust Award 30 Mar 2024
- 7 Oct 2023 Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust : Annual General Meeting 2023 7 Oct 2023
- 20 Aug 2023 Dockyard Church To Take Part In Heritage Open Days 2023 20 Aug 2023
- 18 Jul 2023 The IslandWorks Community Open Day is happening this Saturday 22nd July, 10am-3pm 18 Jul 2023
- 2 Jul 2023 Transformation complete as Dockyard Church becomes IslandWorks 2 Jul 2023
- 20 Jun 2023 Hundreds celebrate completion of Dockyard Church restoration project 20 Jun 2023
- 25 May 2023 Pupils create a time capsule for the church 25 May 2023
- 25 Nov 2022 Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust Annual General Meeting 2022 25 Nov 2022
- 16 Aug 2022 Dockyard Church to Open its Doors for Heritage Open Day 16 Aug 2022
- 11 Aug 2022 Roof and tower works complete at Dockyard Church thanks to crucial additional support from Historic England 11 Aug 2022
- 4 Aug 2022 Local History Society Visits Dockyard Church 4 Aug 2022
- 17 Apr 2022 Church Tower Rises From The Ashes 17 Apr 2022
- 23 Nov 2021 SDPT Annual General Meeting 2021 Report 23 Nov 2021
- 22 Oct 2021 Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust Annual General Meeting 2021 22 Oct 2021
- 30 Jul 2021 Special Hard Hat Tours for Heritage Open Day 30 Jul 2021
- 17 May 2021 Heritage Fund visit lifts spirits on a wet day at Dockyard Church 17 May 2021
- 26 Apr 2021 Rising from the Ashes – The Restoration of the Dockyard Church 26 Apr 2021
- 12 Feb 2021 Information-packed site hoardings provide a splash of colour at Dockyard Church 12 Feb 2021
- 10 Feb 2021 National Apprenticeship Week 10 Feb 2021
- 28 Dec 2020 Sheerness Dockyard Church Building Contractors donate to local food fund 28 Dec 2020
- 5 Sep 2020 Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust ~ AGM 2020 5 Sep 2020
- 27 Mar 2018 Public consultation and exhibition event 27 Mar 2018
- 2 Nov 2017 Students to help with Virtual Reality model 2 Nov 2017
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Events
- 16 Aug 2022 Dockyard Church to Open its Doors for Heritage Open Day 16 Aug 2022
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Heritage
- 16 Aug 2022 Dockyard Church to Open its Doors for Heritage Open Day 16 Aug 2022
- 28 Oct 2020 Discovered fragment foretells fate of burned Church 28 Oct 2020
- 28 May 2015 An Island rich in fascinating history 28 May 2015
- 21 May 2015 Built for the Dockyard workers 21 May 2015
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News
- 30 Mar 2024 Trust are elated as the project receives a 2024 Civic Trust Award 30 Mar 2024
- 7 Oct 2023 Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust : Annual General Meeting 2023 7 Oct 2023
- 20 Aug 2023 Dockyard Church To Take Part In Heritage Open Days 2023 20 Aug 2023
- 18 Jul 2023 The IslandWorks Community Open Day is happening this Saturday 22nd July, 10am-3pm 18 Jul 2023
- 2 Jul 2023 Transformation complete as Dockyard Church becomes IslandWorks 2 Jul 2023
- 20 Jun 2023 Hundreds celebrate completion of Dockyard Church restoration project 20 Jun 2023
- 25 May 2023 Pupils create a time capsule for the church 25 May 2023
- 25 Nov 2022 Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust Annual General Meeting 2022 25 Nov 2022
- 16 Aug 2022 Dockyard Church to Open its Doors for Heritage Open Day 16 Aug 2022
- 11 Aug 2022 Roof and tower works complete at Dockyard Church thanks to crucial additional support from Historic England 11 Aug 2022
- 4 Aug 2022 Local History Society Visits Dockyard Church 4 Aug 2022
- 17 Apr 2022 Church Tower Rises From The Ashes 17 Apr 2022
- 23 Nov 2021 SDPT Annual General Meeting 2021 Report 23 Nov 2021
- 22 Oct 2021 Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust Annual General Meeting 2021 22 Oct 2021
- 30 Jul 2021 Special Hard Hat Tours for Heritage Open Day 30 Jul 2021
- 17 May 2021 Heritage Fund visit lifts spirits on a wet day at Dockyard Church 17 May 2021
- 26 Apr 2021 Rising from the Ashes – The Restoration of the Dockyard Church 26 Apr 2021
- 9 Nov 2020 Work begins on Restoration of Kent’s ‘Fallen Giant’ - Dockyard Church at Sheerness 9 Nov 2020
- 7 Nov 2020 Dockyard Church receives lifeline from Government's Culture Recovery Fund 7 Nov 2020
- 5 Sep 2020 Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust ~ AGM 2020 5 Sep 2020
- 13 Apr 2020 Covid - 19 : Project Update 13 Apr 2020
- 30 May 2019 Future Secured For Neglected Treasure Of England's Naval Heritage 30 May 2019
- 29 Aug 2018 Planning Permission Approved 29 Aug 2018
- 5 Apr 2018 Duke Of Kent visits the project 5 Apr 2018
- 27 Mar 2018 Public consultation and exhibition event 27 Mar 2018
- 14 Mar 2018 Trust creates video to promote project 14 Mar 2018
- 8 Jun 2017 Job opportunity – freelance fundraiser 8 Jun 2017
- 9 May 2017 Delight as Trust achieves round 1 pass for Heritage Lottery funding 9 May 2017
- 22 Apr 2017 Job opportunity – project administrator 22 Apr 2017
- 6 Jan 2017 Milestone reached as £4.75M funding bid is submitted 6 Jan 2017
- 20 May 2015 Charitable status granted 20 May 2015
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Project Update
- 12 Feb 2021 Information-packed site hoardings provide a splash of colour at Dockyard Church 12 Feb 2021
- 10 Feb 2021 National Apprenticeship Week 10 Feb 2021
- 28 Dec 2020 Sheerness Dockyard Church Building Contractors donate to local food fund 28 Dec 2020
- 9 Nov 2020 Work begins on Restoration of Kent’s ‘Fallen Giant’ - Dockyard Church at Sheerness 9 Nov 2020
- 6 Nov 2019 Parapet Designs Proposed 6 Nov 2019
- 29 Aug 2018 Planning Permission Approved 29 Aug 2018
- 26 Jun 2018 Planning Application Now Submitted 26 Jun 2018
- 4 Jan 2018 Urgent Stabilisation Works begins on Dockyard Church 4 Jan 2018