‘Returning a beautiful building to our community’: Former church relaunched as enterprise centre
NEW LIFE: Guests celebrating the launch of St Matthew’s Community Enterprise Centre. Picture credit: Octovision Media
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
A multi-award-winning social housing charity has celebrated the opening of one of its most ambitious projects so far, after the conversion of a landmark Hull church into a community enterprise centre.
The launch of St Matthew’s Community Enterprise Centre by city charity Giroscope drew dozens of guests to the former St Matthew’s Church in Anlaby Road for its official relaunch as a multi-functional business, conference and event space.
Billed as a “centre of aspiration for local communities to engage with”, the impressive venue is also a supported business space in which small firms can grow.
FOCAL POINT: St Matthew’s has served its community for more than a century
High quality, contemporary interiors are married with original features, including the restored First World War memorial stained glass West Window. The human-centred design and warmth of the existing church shines through, making a welcoming and inclusive space for local people and businesses alike.
With its twin mezzanine of offices, meeting rooms and ground-floor co-working stations to support social enterprises and businesses, St Matthew’s is now set to welcome a new community to the historic building.
Giroscope co-ordinator and co-founder Martin Newman said: “Social responsibility has become a 21st century buzz phrase but it’s always been at the heart of everything we do. To us, it's just the common sense approach. St Matthew’s is an ambitious landmark project for our charity and the natural next step for Giroscope.”
Giroscope has grown from its radical roots in the 1980s, when the founders cashed their giros to escape poor housing with high rents. Their co-operative, DIY approach saw them renovating houses for others to rent affordably, little knowing they were building the foundations for future generations.
Nearly 40 years later, the charity has almost 150 quality, low-cost homes and offers opportunities to upskill, gain work experience and access employment.
Martin said: “We’re supporting economic growth and opportunity in HU3 and returning an important and beautiful building back into the community. In doing so, we’re attracting local business and social enterprises to work here, and calling for the business world and wider organisations to engage with us, our wider networks and our social values.
“Whether you’re a freelancer, small business, conference and event organiser, or are simply looking for a meeting room with a difference, we are open for business.”
‘TENANTS BECOME PART OF THE GIROSCOPE FAMILY’: Centre co-ordinator Megan Browne
The former church served West Hull communities for more than a century and was known locally as the ‘Stadium Church’ (being a stone’s throw away from MKM Stadium) and a prominent place on Boulevard corner.
Centre co-ordinator Megan Browne said: “St Matthew’s has been attracting plenty of attention due to its uniqueness. In addition to venue and meeting room hire, we offer attractive membership packages for people looking for fully inclusive offices and co-working facilities with onsite business support.
“At Giroscope, we pride ourselves on our responsible business practices; for example we invest in local suppliers and some of our own tenants have gone on to become suppliers too. We also have an extensive network of partners to link up with. Tenants don’t just become part of the St Matthew’s community, they are members of the Giroscope family.”
For business enquiries and event bookings, email Megan at stmatthews@giroscope.org.uk.