The project aims to restore the Albert Walker Hall within the church and Neighbourhood Centre building, to complete the refurbishment of the Neighbourhood Centre community areas.

Development funding of £78,400 has also been awarded to help Linacre Mission progress their plans to apply for a full grant at a later date. We hope to be able to begin this capital work in 2015.

The project aims to carry out essential conservation work to restore the stained glass windows and decorative plasterwork on ceiling and arches and to install a new roof, heating, lighting and other essential capital work to bring the hall back to its original splendour, within this Grade II Listed building. This work will enable the hall to be used for a wide variety of heritage and cultural activities and the heritage programme planned will create opportunities for volunteers to be trained, new skills to be acquired through educational courses and workshops. A heritage trail throughout the building, Heritage Open Days and themed exhibitions of archive material will bring the history of Litherland and the Mission to life.

The Mission building has been a focal point for the local community for 108 years and is a landmark within the borough of Sefton. It is regularly used by 21 groups on a weekly basis and is also used by many organisations for conferences, meetings, and school productions. Partner agencies deliver courses for educational / employment training as well as for new skills to be developed, including NHS cooking on a budget and for a single person. The Mission has always been a place that people could come to for help, support and friendship and it's 'open door' policy remains to this day, welcoming everyone who comes for whatever reason.

Linda Wills, Trustee and Chair of the Neighbourhood Centre Management Committee, says: "We are absolutely delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has recognised the importance of this building within our community and has given us this support to restore the Albert Walker Hall within the Linacre Methodist Mission premises. The building continues to offer a wide range of community activities and it is fantastic to realise that we are a step closer to preserving this magnificent hall for future generations."

Sara Hilton, Head of  Heritage Lottery Fund North West, said: “Since 1898, The Linacre Methodist Mission has been an invaluable resource for local people and is of significant architectural importance. HLF’s support will enable the restoration of Grade II listed Albert Walker Hall and transform it into a multi-purpose, sustainable space within the Mission. It’s great to know that alongside the capital works, a varied activity programme will also be on offer providing important training and community events. We’re really looking forward to seeing these exciting plans develop further over the coming months.”

Notes to editors
 

• A first-round pass/initial support means the project meets HLF criteria for funding and HLF believes the project has potential to deliver high-quality benefits and value for Lottery money. The application was in competition with other supportable projects, so a first-round pass is an endorsement of outline proposals. Having been awarded a first-round pass, the project now has up to two years to submit fully developed proposals to compete for a firm award. On occasion, an applicant with a first-round pass will also be awarded development funding towards the development of their scheme.
• Linacre Methodist Mission, from its beginnings in two houses in 1898, has always been a church and community based centre committed to meeting the needs, both spiritually and socially, of the people living in this deprived area of Liverpool. The present building, built in 1905, was created to meet the needs of an expanding church community and social centre for the area. Plans for the refurbishment of the community rooms within the building began in 2008 and a grant from the Big Lottery Fund and many other charitable foundations enabled the Beacon Project to take place.
• In 2010 these rooms were opened, as the Linacre Mission Neighbourhood Centre, creating a warm, safe and welcoming place for people to come and learn new skills, take part in a wide variety of activities both educational and social and to relieve isolation for many people in the area.

Further information
 
Linda Wills, Linacre Methodist Mission on 0151 933 1707, email: linda.wills2@tiscali.co.uk.

Laura Bates, HLF press office on 020 7591 6027, email: lbates@hlf.org.uk.