Open DoorInformation for Users |
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| Need somewhere to meet? |
Welcome to Users Thank you for your request to use the Parish Church. We are delighted to enable its use by the wider community. Initial enquiry by a user to use a part of the facilities should be made to the Parish Administrator at the Church Office (telephone 01280 821509). A user’s application form (enclosed) should be completed by the user, and taken or sent to the Church Office, for the attention of the Rector or a Churchwarden. A separate form is needed for each booking unless the same details cover several weeks. If the use is accepted to be in accord with the aims of Open Door by the Rector or a Churchwarden, he/she will agree the details, conditions and charges with the user, on the basis of the conditions and scale of charges set out below. Aims of Open Door The aims of Open Door are for the Church: to be at the heart of the wider community; to reach out to meet the expanding spiritual, social, cultural and educational needs of a growing town; to enable the greater use of the church facilities for the benefit of the wider community; to facilitate the establishment of smaller, self-supporting groups; to enable a meeting point for the lonely and the disadvantaged. Users are expected to be broadly in sympathy with these aims.
The facilities available Normal seating capacity in the main body of the Church is about 225 chairs, plus 60 on the balcony. We have about 80 extra chairs, which are usually stored under the stairs. You are welcome to use these, but as we do not have a paid caretaker you would need to arrange for them to be moved and to be returned at the end of your event. The maximum number of people allowed in the church is 350 (excluding performers), 290 in the main church and 60 in the balcony. We also have three other rooms available for hire: the downstairs Tower Room (capacity about 20), and the upstairs North and South Rooms (capacities 20 and 30 respectively). There is a downstairs kitchen, and an upstairs kitchenette. A chair lift is available for people with disabilities, but its use must be supervised by an accompanying adult. There is a single inside toilet and an outside toilet block (both accessible to those with disabilities). The latter can be unlocked if requested on booking. Responsibilities of Users Users are responsible for all those who attend the activities, including spectators. Activities should be evaluated and monitored to ensure minimum risk, including compliance with the Church’s Child Protection Policy, Health and Safety Policy, First Aid and Fire Regulations, copies of which can be obtained from the Parish Administrator. Users are responsible for ensuring their first aid provision. First Aid kits are placed in the kitchen, upstairs kitchenette (on landing), and Tower Room at the rear of the church. A telephone is available at the Parish Office if it is open. For public events fire regulations require that the hirer should provide a minimum of four fire stewards. Four torches (two pocket sized, two wide-beamed) are provided for use in the event of a power failure, and one steward should carry a pocket torch at all times. During public events the chair lift must not be used, for fire evacuation reasons, and people with disabilities should remain on the ground floor. Users should ensure that only those parts of the facilities which have been agreed are used. Any furniture moved should be returned to its original position. A limited amount of car parking is provided adjacent to the Church. Users should ensure that car parking is responsible and considerate. Users should leave the Church in a proper and acceptable condition. Litter should be collected and removed from the site. Users should ensure that all participants and spectators have left the Church after the activity. Any child waiting to be collected should be supervised by the user until the responsible person collecting arrives. If you are to use the kitchen facilities please read all the notices displayed, especially with regard to the water heater. Please leave the kitchen clean, and dispose of all rubbish. Empty bottles should be taken to the local recycling centre. The Rector or a Churchwarden reserve the right to cancel use in exceptional circumstances, providing a refund of any charges for the cancelled use. By completing an application form, the user indicates his/her willingness to comply with the above Conditions of Use. A copy of the user’s application form should remain with the Rector or a Churchwarden, a copy with the Parish Administrator, and a confirming copy will be returned to the user. Categories of Use, Charges and Payment Priority of use is given to the day-to-day life of the congregation, such as services and congregational activities and meetings. There are three levels of charge which are designed to sustain Open Door by ensuring that essential maintenance and utility costs can be met while remaining sensitive to the differing financial circumstances of applicants: A: schools, and users/organisations with no means of financial support; B: users/organisations with regular financial support, subscription or other income; C: users/organisations charging for admission to events.
The church diary will incorporate and honour a balance of users in order to enable and support a wide range of Open Door activities and events alongside the day-to-day life of the congregation. The normal hire charges, per session (i.e. morning, afternoon or evening) are as follows: Category A: Main Church £donation Other Rooms, per room £donation Category B: Main Church £25 Other Rooms, per room £10 Category C: Main Church £50 Other Rooms, per room £20
Lighting costs and an allowance for maintenance, insurance, and locking/unlocking are all included in the hire charge, as is heating of meeting rooms, but an additional charge is made for heating in the main church if required (£30 for the first hour, to allow for warm-up costs – it can take 8 hours to warm the church! - and £7.50 per hour thereafter). Use of kitchen facilities is free, but must be specifically requested on booking. For public performances we are required to make a return to the Performing Right Society (PRS), so we will need two copies of your programme and full details of the numbers of tickets sold at each price. PRS charges are set out in the accompanying leaflet, and will be billed at the end of each quarter when the PRS bill is received by the Church. Any other royalty charges must be met directly by the user. The Parish Administrator will prepare an invoice if applicable. Payment will usually be expected immediately after use. For regular use, payment may be made monthly. The Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul For a Booking Form (web version under construction), please contact: Parish Administrator St Peter & St Paul, Buckingham Church Street Buckingham MK18 O1BY Telephone 01280 821509 Fax 01280 821595 |
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