Lighthouse Community Church in Sheringham is raising funds to extend its building and accommodate a larger Soft Play zone, which is currently the only facility of its kind in the area. The outreach provided by the church includes the free soft play space and Lighthouse café, which are open from Tuesday to Friday for parents and carers with pre-school children. Due to its popularity, the play area often reaches capacity and the staff have to restrict entry. The church plans to increase the soft play area’s floor space by over a third, include equipment for older children up to age 7, and install a new sensory area for children with additional needs.
With planning permission already granted for the necessary work, the church aims to complete the extension project by the end of 2025. The estimated cost for the project is around £95,000, and fundraising efforts have already raised over £16,000 through events, donations from church partners and café customers, and planned engagements with funding bodies. The goal is to continue providing the soft play facility free of charge for Lighthouse Café customers, along with the ThreadBear shop selling pre-loved children’s clothes and toys, as an important outreach into the local community. Opportunities to donate to the project include cash or cheque payments, visiting the JustGiving page, or using Sumup to pay by credit/debit card.
The church leadership, including Martyn Barr as treasurer and Maggie Rothe as café manager, are dedicated to the success of the extension project and the continued support of the soft play facility as part of their community outreach efforts. The new plans for the extension, courtesy of SMG architects, aim to improve and expand the existing soft play area to better serve families in Sheringham. By spring 2024, significant progress has already been made in fundraising efforts, with a commitment to reaching the overall fundraising goal and completing the building extension by the end of 2025. Individuals interested in supporting this project can contribute through various methods outlined by the church, and any news or events relating to Christians or a church in North Norfolk can be shared with Tony Rothe for potential coverage.
