Church grants

Church

St James, Clerkenwell (Inspire)

Clerkenwell Close, London, EC1R 0EA

Designation

Total project cost

£25,614

Cloudesley grants

Small Access Fund Grant – £10,000 – approved 7 July 2024

Dates

The works took two days: 19th-20th August 2024

Contractors used

Rapid Ramps

Background

St James Clerkenwell had their own Access audit undertaken by Access Design in March 2020. Within this access audit there was a recommendation to provide step-free access. The steps are in two flights with five stone steps in the lower flight and 13 concrete steps in the upper flight. There was no step free access into the main church. This was severally limiting access to the main church.

The grant went towards the survey, purchase and installation of a ramp to enable people with impaired mobility and parents with young children to gain step-free access to the church nave from pavement level.

Benefits

The project has had a valuable impact on the attendees of church services and activities. Several church family members who suffer from permanent mobility impairment have found it far easier to gain entry to the building.

One particular congregation member returned to services after several months of not coming because the ramp made it possible for him to navigate the steep incline to the church level.

The ramp has also had a significant impact on the Stay & Play toddler group on Wednesday mornings as almost all attendees come with a pram, which previously required two people carrying them up the stairs. Now attendees can make their own way up the ramp and don’t need to worry about the difficulty of carrying prams and helping young children climb the steps.

The church have also had tourists who are wheelchair users come into the church building to look around during the week, which would have been impossible prior to the installation of the ramp.

Challenges

The main challenge now is finding a way to minimise heat loss from the building when the doors that lead to the ramp are open.

The Cloudesley perspective – why did this project gain support?

The installation of a temporary ramp removed the most significant access barrier that St James, Clerkenwell has due to the number of steps into the church. A permanent solution is costly and will take several years to achieve. This temporary arrangement will be in place for at least five years and provides an excellent interim solution. The church was also contributing significantly to the costs.