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
- Aug 16, 2022 Dockyard Church to Open its Doors for Heritage Open Day Aug 16, 2022
- Oct 28, 2020 Discovered fragment foretells fate of burned Church Oct 28, 2020
- Jun 28, 2019 Island Schools Arts Festival Contribute To The Project Jun 28, 2019
- Jul 5, 2018 Participation From Local School Children Jul 5, 2018
- May 2, 2018 Local community interest with the projects draft plans May 2, 2018
- Mar 17, 2017 Tales from the Dockyard Church – reminiscence project Mar 17, 2017
- Jan 6, 2017 SDPT makes room for 'Room' Jan 6, 2017
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Community
- Nov 19, 2024 Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust : Annual General Meeting 2024 Nov 19, 2024
- Mar 30, 2024 Trust are elated as the project receives a 2024 Civic Trust Award Mar 30, 2024
- Oct 7, 2023 Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust : Annual General Meeting 2023 Oct 7, 2023
- Aug 20, 2023 Dockyard Church To Take Part In Heritage Open Days 2023 Aug 20, 2023
- Jul 18, 2023 The IslandWorks Community Open Day is happening this Saturday 22nd July, 10am-3pm Jul 18, 2023
- Jul 2, 2023 Transformation complete as Dockyard Church becomes IslandWorks Jul 2, 2023
- Jun 20, 2023 Hundreds celebrate completion of Dockyard Church restoration project Jun 20, 2023
- May 25, 2023 Pupils create a time capsule for the church May 25, 2023
- Nov 25, 2022 Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust Annual General Meeting 2022 Nov 25, 2022
- Aug 16, 2022 Dockyard Church to Open its Doors for Heritage Open Day Aug 16, 2022
- Aug 11, 2022 Roof and tower works complete at Dockyard Church thanks to crucial additional support from Historic England Aug 11, 2022
- Aug 4, 2022 Local History Society Visits Dockyard Church Aug 4, 2022
- Apr 17, 2022 Church Tower Rises From The Ashes Apr 17, 2022
- Nov 23, 2021 SDPT Annual General Meeting 2021 Report Nov 23, 2021
- Oct 22, 2021 Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust Annual General Meeting 2021 Oct 22, 2021
- Jul 30, 2021 Special Hard Hat Tours for Heritage Open Day Jul 30, 2021
- May 17, 2021 Heritage Fund visit lifts spirits on a wet day at Dockyard Church May 17, 2021
- Apr 26, 2021 Rising from the Ashes – The Restoration of the Dockyard Church Apr 26, 2021
- Feb 12, 2021 Information-packed site hoardings provide a splash of colour at Dockyard Church Feb 12, 2021
- Feb 10, 2021 National Apprenticeship Week Feb 10, 2021
- Dec 28, 2020 Sheerness Dockyard Church Building Contractors donate to local food fund Dec 28, 2020
- Sep 5, 2020 Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust ~ AGM 2020 Sep 5, 2020
- Mar 27, 2018 Public consultation and exhibition event Mar 27, 2018
- Nov 2, 2017 Students to help with Virtual Reality model Nov 2, 2017
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Events
- Aug 16, 2022 Dockyard Church to Open its Doors for Heritage Open Day Aug 16, 2022
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Heritage
- Aug 16, 2022 Dockyard Church to Open its Doors for Heritage Open Day Aug 16, 2022
- Oct 28, 2020 Discovered fragment foretells fate of burned Church Oct 28, 2020
- May 28, 2015 An Island rich in fascinating history May 28, 2015
- May 21, 2015 Built for the Dockyard workers May 21, 2015
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News
- Nov 19, 2024 Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust : Annual General Meeting 2024 Nov 19, 2024
- Mar 30, 2024 Trust are elated as the project receives a 2024 Civic Trust Award Mar 30, 2024
- Oct 7, 2023 Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust : Annual General Meeting 2023 Oct 7, 2023
- Aug 20, 2023 Dockyard Church To Take Part In Heritage Open Days 2023 Aug 20, 2023
- Jul 18, 2023 The IslandWorks Community Open Day is happening this Saturday 22nd July, 10am-3pm Jul 18, 2023
- Jul 2, 2023 Transformation complete as Dockyard Church becomes IslandWorks Jul 2, 2023
- Jun 20, 2023 Hundreds celebrate completion of Dockyard Church restoration project Jun 20, 2023
- May 25, 2023 Pupils create a time capsule for the church May 25, 2023
- Nov 25, 2022 Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust Annual General Meeting 2022 Nov 25, 2022
- Aug 16, 2022 Dockyard Church to Open its Doors for Heritage Open Day Aug 16, 2022
- Aug 11, 2022 Roof and tower works complete at Dockyard Church thanks to crucial additional support from Historic England Aug 11, 2022
- Aug 4, 2022 Local History Society Visits Dockyard Church Aug 4, 2022
- Apr 17, 2022 Church Tower Rises From The Ashes Apr 17, 2022
- Nov 23, 2021 SDPT Annual General Meeting 2021 Report Nov 23, 2021
- Oct 22, 2021 Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust Annual General Meeting 2021 Oct 22, 2021
- Jul 30, 2021 Special Hard Hat Tours for Heritage Open Day Jul 30, 2021
- May 17, 2021 Heritage Fund visit lifts spirits on a wet day at Dockyard Church May 17, 2021
- Apr 26, 2021 Rising from the Ashes – The Restoration of the Dockyard Church Apr 26, 2021
- Nov 9, 2020 Work begins on Restoration of Kent’s ‘Fallen Giant’ - Dockyard Church at Sheerness Nov 9, 2020
- Nov 7, 2020 Dockyard Church receives lifeline from Government's Culture Recovery Fund Nov 7, 2020
- Sep 5, 2020 Sheerness Dockyard Preservation Trust ~ AGM 2020 Sep 5, 2020
- Apr 13, 2020 Covid - 19 : Project Update Apr 13, 2020
- May 30, 2019 Future Secured For Neglected Treasure Of England's Naval Heritage May 30, 2019
- Aug 29, 2018 Planning Permission Approved Aug 29, 2018
- Apr 5, 2018 Duke Of Kent visits the project Apr 5, 2018
- Mar 27, 2018 Public consultation and exhibition event Mar 27, 2018
- Mar 14, 2018 Trust creates video to promote project Mar 14, 2018
- Jun 8, 2017 Job opportunity – freelance fundraiser Jun 8, 2017
- May 9, 2017 Delight as Trust achieves round 1 pass for Heritage Lottery funding May 9, 2017
- Apr 22, 2017 Job opportunity – project administrator Apr 22, 2017
- Jan 6, 2017 Milestone reached as £4.75M funding bid is submitted Jan 6, 2017
- May 20, 2015 Charitable status granted May 20, 2015
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Project Update
- Feb 12, 2021 Information-packed site hoardings provide a splash of colour at Dockyard Church Feb 12, 2021
- Feb 10, 2021 National Apprenticeship Week Feb 10, 2021
- Dec 28, 2020 Sheerness Dockyard Church Building Contractors donate to local food fund Dec 28, 2020
- Nov 9, 2020 Work begins on Restoration of Kent’s ‘Fallen Giant’ - Dockyard Church at Sheerness Nov 9, 2020
- Nov 6, 2019 Parapet Designs Proposed Nov 6, 2019
- Aug 29, 2018 Planning Permission Approved Aug 29, 2018
- Jun 26, 2018 Planning Application Now Submitted Jun 26, 2018
- Jan 4, 2018 Urgent Stabilisation Works begins on Dockyard Church Jan 4, 2018