Funding
As a registered charity the UCKG HelpCentre operates within Charity Commission guidelines and regulations. Information on its turnover and asset base is published on the Charity Commission’s website and full, audited accounts are available on request.
The church is predominantly funded by regular and one-off donations from members and individual sponsors, as with other churches. However members are under no obligation to make donations to the church.
UCKG Training Centres receive support from their local Learning and Skills Councils and other local funders, in some instances.
Policies
The UCKG HelpCentre has a number of standard policies in place including a:
• Child Protection Policy
• Equal Opportunities Policies covering the Training Centre and the church’s
employees
• Health & Safety Policy.
A Pastoral Code of Conduct has also been established church-wide to ensure that all pastors adhere to operational and ethical regulations.
Investors in People
The UCKG Training Centre in Finsbury Park was awarded Investors in People status in 2005, recognising the organisation’s commitment to developing its staff to deliver a high standard of service. This was an important milestone for the centre, which provides IT and basic skills training, and careers guidance to people of all ages and abilities.
The assessors highlighted a number of key strengths including the enthusiasm and commitment of all staff to delivering training and their shared vision for the future of the Training Centre. The management was also praised for training and developing the staff.
The Rainbow Theatre restoration
In 1996, the UCKG HelpCentre acquired the derelict Rainbow Theatre in Finsbury Park. The building met with all the church’s structural and capacity requirements with the added benefit of being close to public transport. The UCKG HelpCentre then embarked on a multi-million pound fund-raising and restoration programme to return the Grade II* listed 1930s cinema to its former glory. The renovation was completed after three years of hard work. Close cooperation with English Heritage ensured that the work respects the building’s 1930s architecture.
More recently the Rainbow Theatre has seen significant development to enhance its key workers accommodation and office facilities.
Peckham HelpCentre
In September 2007 the UCKG HelpCentre launched an appeal to raise £1.6 million by the end of the year to save its Peckham HelpCentre from closure. The 10-year lease had come to an end and the landlord, a property investor, wanted to redevelop the property with shops and flats above. The UCKG HelpCentre’s options were to find alternative premises, accept a much smaller space within the new development for an unacceptably high rent, or buy the property.
Through a number of fundraising initiatives – chiefly the Ben Nevis challenge – and with just two weeks to go, the church hit its target and is now the proud owner of the property at 176 Rye Lane, Peckham.
The next challenge was to raise funds to refurbish the entire building by the end of 2008. The refurbishment included a brand new, fully equipped Youth Centre to provide training, encourage academic excellence, and promote sound life skills. IT courses will be available along with mentoring services, careers guidance, and leisure space and activities.
