'Our building will help people connect with church'

Chair of trustees Andy Deakin said the renovation grant will make the church more accessible

"The truth is a church building is a barrier for some people even coming through the door," says the Chair of Trustees for Oasis church.

Andy Deakin knows taking on the renovation of an old pharmacy on a Southampton shopping parade might be an odd approach.

But Mr Deakin wants the church to be the "beating heart" of the Bitterne community: "This beautiful old chemist is ideal for us to run our community events."

The church received a £150,000 grant from the government's Community Ownership fund in December.

It means they can renovate the building on Bitterne Triangle, removing walls to make the main space bigger and replace the floor.

The Old Chemist is to be restored and renovated with the community ownership grant

"We need children to be able to sit down and crawl around when they come with their parents for toddler sessions and classes. Wooden floorboards aren't good for that," added Mr Deakin.

There's also money for a new larger kitchen, repairs to the leaky roof and cash for a disabled toilet.

Grant money will be spent replacing the kitchen

The Southampton Basics Bank which offers food and clothes to those in need operates from the building weekly.

The space also opens as a community cafe twice a week, so people can pop in for free hot drinks, biscuits and some company.

Once the renovations are complete, the building will be more suitable for people who wish to hire it for fitness or creative classes and children's parties.

The stained glass windows will be retained during the renovation as one of the historic features

Although the layout of the building needs to be changed, Mr Deakin said the history of the building must be maintained, including the stained glass windows.

"They let the cold in so we're spending some of the grant on secondary glazing, so we can keep the stained glass but make it warmer."

But the government community ownership fund has now closed.

In a statement the government said: "Due to the challenging inheritance left by the previous government we have taken the difficult decision to close the Community Ownership Fund.

"We are determined to boost opportunity in our communities, including in the South East, which is why we are introducing new powers to help local people take control of valued community spaces."

Mr Deakin said that was "very sad" for other communities, given how much groups do in local areas to mobilise volunteers and look after vulnerable people.