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Project Summary The Canny Space at Holy Trinity, Sunderland

Our project will address the very urgent repair and conservation needs at Holy Trinity.
We propose to deliver a cost-effective and sympathetic conservation and regeneration
scheme, saving the building from further deterioration and putting it onto a path to
sustainability.

As part of the repair and conservation programme, essential work will be undertaken in
order to stabilise, and make fit for use, the existing space. This priority work includes:

1. Investigation and upgrade of the drainage to the south of the church;
2. Roof repairs and installation of a safety line;
3. Investigation of structural cracks in the apse, war memorial chapel and cornices;
4. Joinery repairs;
5. Repairs to the west end doors;
6. Low level repointing;
7. Repairs to the floors and staircases.

In its present condition, there are few facilities to enable Holy Trinity to be brought into
wider use (heating, lighting, water and WC provision are either absent or inadequate).
Consequently the church is not being used enough and is not generating the income that
will help secure its future. There are several essential adaptation requirements that will
enable The Canny Space to deliver a range of activities and opportunities outlined in
detail below. These include:

1. Service upgrades (lighting, electricity and drainage);
2. Installation of a cost-effective heating system;
3. Small-scale kitchen area;
4. Upgrade of existing toilet and installation of DDA toilet block;
5. Creation of a multipurpose space;
6. Creation of office space;
7. Wireless hub;
8. Overall access improvements.

These upgrades and installations will help the building be used much more than is
currently the case, and allowing a wider variety of activities to take place and helping us
reach a much more diverse audience.

Once capital work is complete, the project will provide a high quality space for local
people, one that creates vital networks for learning, skills development and the
enjoyment of lots of cultural opportunities. The Canny Space will engage and empower
local people to develop new skills and abilities; for example in social media, craft skills,
research or business skills helping them reach their potential as individuals and as a
community.

Specifically, our project will offer a range of activities and opportunities, including:

With our partners we will deliver an exciting and fun programme of interpretation
and learning. People will learn about the church and the local area through a
variety of means - everything from performance to storytelling to apps and
written material, through to crafts, music and exhibitions;
As well as the building and its connections, we will focus on untapped sources of
heritage and fire local peoples interests in the histories that inspire them. Well
work with the community, giving them the skills to research, interpret and
communicate what they discover;
Well provide a live project for craft skills training and the demonstration of
different techniques and trades, enabling people to learn about the variety of
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trades in the heritage sector. Well do this in partnership with leading regional
specialists;
With partners, well develop a Centre for Stories @ The Canny Space. This
centre will use the rich heritage of the building, local area and people to
encourage a love of reading and history;
Well create lots of volunteering opportunities and train volunteers to help us
manage Holy Trinity.

We understand the importance of developing sustainable projects and that different
contexts require different approaches. We will build on our options development, income
generation report and develop a business plan that will be robust, realistic and enable
the Canny Space to move towards sustainability. Our income generation report and
subsequent thinking identifies a number of potential income streams, including:

Live performances
Annual events
Community social events
Grant aided projects

Our experience of developing the business plan for Holy Trinity, as well as that of
developing similar plans for other sites, will be shared with the regional heritage sector.
We will look to work with expert partners to deliver a learning programme that helps
raise the business planning capacity of local and regional partners.

In summary our outputs will be:

Phase 1 conservation, repair and adaptation programme completed.
Delivery of a craft skills training programme.
Delivery of an activity programme with a range of regional and local partners,
including establishment of The Centre for Stories @ Holy Trinity.
Development of a business plan for The Canny Space, along with increase in
uses, users and income. We will share our learning on business planning through
workshops and learning papers.
Delivery of a range of interpretation materials, products and experiences.
A training and development programme for volunteers.

We see this bid as phase 1 of a longer term project. Some of the repair needs of Holy
Trinity will take some time to diagnose and we need to undertake further analysis of
some of these known unknowns. Breaking the project down into phases will allow us
time to test different models of operation and try a number of uses. In the long term this
will help us to develop a stronger, more resilient project.