St Andrew’s Church, Portland

Rev. Tim Gomm is Rector of Portland was looking at how to deal with an under-used Church Hall. He read the ‘Coming Home’ report and was inspired. In the local area a big challenge was a lack of homes for young people. Rev. Tim saw the opportunity to meet that need; rather than sell off the Church Hall they were able to raise funds and pay a local builder to convert it into two flats. They are now available to be rented by anyone looking for their first home aged under 25. As well as helping meet that need, the flats are a source of regular long-term income to the PCC.

The Church used some of its own funds and raised some more from the local council and some grant-making trusts. The post - Coming Home project team provided a small grant that enabled the project to get over the line.

This site could have been sold off to a developer and provided some one-time cash to the Church. Instead the site is still owned by the Church, meeting a specific local need and providing income. The new residents won’t have to go to the Church, but they will find neighbours ready to get to know them and help them settle in. Through this work Rev. Tim has deepened the relationship with the local council, and he is already looking at where else a difference can be made. This includes making links with the Methodist Church (who have a large plot of unused land) and the Forum partners to discuss some much larger projects for the Isle of Portland.

Bishop Guli opened the new facility in September 2023. In February 2024, the first resident, a local carer, moved in. work continues on completing the interior of the second apartment.