Why do we need a new venue to meet in?

 Unreliable Access to Current Venue:

We have no guarantee of access to Balerno High School (BHS) on Sundays due to changes in Facilities Management contracts. This uncertainty causes significant stress for staff and volunteers, who must be prepared to relocate at short notice.

Frequent Venue Cancellations:

In the past year alone, our bookings at BHS have been canceled six times, with another cancellation scheduled for Sunday, 8 September 2024. This unpredictability severely disrupts our planning and operations.

Significant Burden on Staff and Volunteers:

Moving venues involves extensive logistical challenges, including sourcing a venue with capacity for 250 adults and 100 children, hiring equipment and transport, and setting up and tearing down all necessary facilities. This process is time-consuming and exhausting for our team, often requiring a 5-hour shift on Sundays.

Increased Financial Costs:

Alternative venues like Heriot Watt Conference Centre are significantly more expensive, costing over £1000 per Sunday service, compared to less than half this amount for BHS. These additional costs are unsustainable for weekly hire and limit our options.

Limited Availability of Alternative Venues:

Heriot Watt University is only available for around nine months of the year due to other commitments like exams, graduations, and summer schools. Other venues, such as Balerno Parish Church, are too small to accommodate our congregation or have their own scheduling conflicts.

No Evening Access:

Post-COVID, there is no evening access to BHS, and this is a non-negotiable decision from the council. Despite efforts from local councillors, this restriction remains, adding further constraints to our scheduling.

Unsafe and Inadequate Facilities:

The current venue has numerous safety issues, including a warped floor in the drama studio that creates a trip hazard, poor disabled access, and unusable facilities like the hoist in the disabled toilet.

Unreliable Communication and Support from Council:

Poor communication between the school, council departments, and external contractors has led to last-minute cancellations, incorrect bookings, and unexpected changes to our arrangements, all of which disrupt our activities.

Unacceptable Cleanliness and Maintenance:

The state of the toilets and other facilities is appalling, with frequent issues like offensive graffiti, foul odors, and a lack of basic supplies such as toilet paper and soap. The floors in the 0-18 rooms are often filthy and require cleaning by volunteers.

Challenges with Baptism Services:

Holding baptisms at BHS has become increasingly difficult due to new requirements from Edinburgh Leisure (EL), such as the need for three EL-trained lifeguards. Sourcing these lifeguards is challenging and expensive, making baptisms difficult to arrange.

Inadequate Technology Infrastructure:

The lack of hardwired internet access at BHS prevents us from livestreaming services. Our current reliance on an unstable 4G router leads to frequent disruptions and technical issues.

Poor Acoustics and Accessibility:

The concourse's acoustics are challenging for our tech team and create a distressing environment for individuals with neurodiversity. Additionally, the concourse floor presents numerous trip hazards due to multiple failures in the vinyl slabs, making it difficult for those with mobility issues to navigate.

Heating Issues:

The heating system at BHS has failed on several occasions, leaving the concourse and 0-18 rooms unfit for use during colder months.

Given these ongoing challenges, it is clear that a new, dedicated church building is essential for ensuring the stability, safety, and sustainability of our ministry.