Hope Central - Elim Ryedale Church

Hope Central is the vision of Elim Ryedale Church. Elim Ryedale Church is a registered charity no: 251549 and operates as a branch of the Elim Pentecostal Church.
As well as providing our administrative base for the Church, through Hope Central we aim to provide a welcoming, contemporary environment for local people to meet and to access resources, training and support. Currently, Elim Ryedale employs a full-time minister and a part-time Administrative Assistant and as we develop Hope Central we aim to employ a Full-time centre manager and two part-time support workers to oversee the various activities and facilities. We took the lease of 62-64 Castlegate on 2nd October with the following objectives:

1. To develop our links with the community by being more accessible

a. Our current building has not got adequate disability access and facilities. Through the development of 62-64 Castlegate we will be able to provide a meeting place fully compliant with current disability access legislation

b. Our current location has limited access due to the recent building development next door and the loss of easy access to the main street. Through relocating our administrative base to the offices upstairs in 62-64 Castlegate we will once again be in easy access of the public.

2. To expand our community projects

a. Currently we run a limited number of community projects from our current site which include:
i. Stepping Stones - Mums and Tots Group (20-25 children)
ii. Beautiful Feet – Free Chiropody (20-30 adults)
iii. Evergreens – Refreshments and Bible study for those who often are unable to attend on a Sunday (approx. 20 adults)
iv. X:Talk – Youth Club for 11-18 (20-25 young people)
v. Kickstart – Children’s Club for 5 – 11 year olds (25-30 children)

b. Through relocating to 62-64 Castlegate we will be able to improve facilities, the quality of our projects and give room for expansion

3. To develop new resources, training and support for the Church and the wider community

a. Through the Church and our links with the community we often encounter needs in the areas of parenting, marriage and debt. We currently offer listening services and advice in these areas. We intend to make these resources available to the wider community through, parenting and marriage courses and debt counselling.

b. We currently run the Alpha course which has been attended by over 2 million people in the UK and 10 million worldwide and explores the meaning of life.

c. Provide access to computers and the internet for email, homework clubs, and for purchasing resources such as Sunday school material for local Churches

d. To contact the local schools to discuss ways in which we can support them. Initial ideas are to provide after school homework clubs and breakfast club for those that don’t have breakfast before school

4. To provide a contemporary environment for people of all ages to meet and have somewhere to go

a. To develop a contemporary coffee bar style environment, with kitchen and café style seating. This will not be a fundraising initiative but a facility that is open to the public and ran by a mixture of volunteers and staff. The opening times will be limited to 9 – 5 but will also be limited to when voluntary staff are available

b. On arrangement to provide meals for specific events, there will be just snack type meals available on a regular basis

c. To provide a large meeting room downstairs and 3 smaller rooms upstairs available for use by the community and local organisations

d. To provide multimedia facilities for presentations and entertainment

e. To provide wireless internet access

5. To be help people to identify their needs and to give direction to where these can be met

a. We recognise that we are part of a community and are unable to meet all needs. We therefore recognise the work done by many voluntary and professional organisations in the Ryedale area. We understand the necessity to continue to develop links with these organisations with specialist skills so we can point people in the right direction for assistance. We have already made initial contact with Next Steps and Ryedale Voluntary Action.

b. To provide current literature and information for other organisations