THE RAGGED Project
2019
We raised the money to buy the Shaftesbury Christian Centre
2020
We got planning permission to knock it down and build a new six storey building, with space for the church, the community and 33 flats for socially affordable rent.
2021
J49 was registered as new local provider of social homes (RP)
2022
The building work began in December
2023
We have raised 96% of our £10 million target
£1.5m from The Bear Church/The Deptford Ragged Trust is being raised through gifts, donations, applications to grant making trusts and fundraising activities
£8.5m from J49 (RP) is being raised through Lewisham Council, the GLA, a loan/mortgage, applications to grant making trusts and corporate donations.
Running totals: 12.03.2024
for the £1.5m: Raised so far = £1,100,000
In addition fundraising expenses over 4 years 2021-24 £56,635
for the £8.5m: Raised so far by J49 = £8.5m
Facebook fund-raising page (link here)
The Ragged Project page (link here)
Fundraising NEws - as it arrives:
In the new year we received £118,408 from individuals and we were able to claim Gift Aid on a number of these donations.
In December Ada ran a stall at Orley Farm School’s Christmas Fayre raising £127, Emily raised £463 selling her handmaid items, and our tea towels raised £260 (you know what you’ll be getting for Christmas!)
In November 2023 an individual gave £50,000 (£62,500 with gift aid) towards our project.
On 16th September 2023 Vickie’s Serpentine Swim raised £422
In May 2023, the Ragged Project tea towel sales began.
On 23rd April 2023, Declan ran the London Marathon for the Project
On 6th March 2023 the Quaker Housing Trust granted us £25,000 towards our new building.
On Sept 15th 2022 we received a donation of £7,500 from an individual
At the end of August 2022 an individual from the US donated $25,000 dollars (approx £21,444) toward the build
Between April and 19th August 2022 we have had £9,920 in general gifts and donations towards our building project and £10,000 to cover our fundraising costs.
On 12th August 2022 the Beatrice Laing Trust granted us £100,000 towards our new building.
On 12th August 2022 the Maurice and Hilda Laing charitable trust granted us £50,000 towards our project.
On 9th August 2022 an individual pledged £150,000 (£187,500 in gift aid) towards our project.
In July Carol’s blanket raffle raised £698
In July our Exit Stage Left gig raised £999
In April Katharine’s blanket raffles raised £789
On 1st April Nadine raised £161 from her lent prayer calendar.
On 25th March 2022 The Bear organised a sleep out in Deptford to raise money - you can sponsor us through justgiving here : so far we have raised £5,476
On 9th March 2022 Lewisham Council awarded us £37,000 in NCIL ward funding
In March Josh’s fine dining experience raised £880
In February 2022 - LandAid granted us £90,000 toward the build of the flats
Up to January 2022 we have raised £40,981 from general donations towards project costs
Triodos Bank have agreed a £3m loan/mortgage to J49
In December 2021 J49 became an RP - a registered provider of social housing
In November 2021 AllChurches Trust granted us £25,000 towards the fit out of our new church building
Vickie has been cold water swimming every week to raise money - £945 so far (ongoing - click here)
In November 2021 Crowsfeet raised £207 by passing the hat around at the end of their gig at the Wickham Arms
In September 2021 we raised £799 from our Gig in the Garden with the Church of the Good Shepherd, Lee
In August 2021 Josh raised £400 by fine dining at The Bear
In Summer 2021 Keir and Ezra’s Walk to Wales raised £6,000
In Spring 2021 Garfield Weston granted us £250,000 towards our building project
In spring 2021 The Deptford challenge Trust granted us £20,000 for core funding
In Spring 2021 Lewisham Council voted to grant J49 £1.7m
GLA have granted £2.88m to J49 towards the flats
In Spring 2021 Renewable Heat Incentive - J49 have been granted £290,000 (payable over the next 25 years) towards ground source heating as part of the government’s renewable heat incentive
The RAGGED Project at a glance
For the GLory of God and The Good of the Poor
The past
The Deptford Ragged Trust dates back to 1844 when eight ‘Christian men and women’ from Deptford opened one of London’s first ‘ragged schools’ in a loft above a cowshed on Deptford High Street.
The present
Today The Deptford Ragged Trust at the Shaftesbury Christian Centre is home to The Bear Church, Bear Cubs Toddler Group, The Evening Service and soup kitchen, The Deptford Ragged School Archive, English Fridays, Psalms and Stretches, BearLive and many other creative and community events from theatre shows to jumble sales.
The future
We plan to knock down our 1950’s life-expired building and replace it with a new six storey building, to be known as The Bear. The ground floor, and part of the first floor, will be for church and community use. Along with all the activities listed above, we will make space for the storage and exhibition of The Deptford Ragged School Archive, the Ragged Café and ancillary offices. The upper floors will be for residential accommodation at London Affordable Rent.
The land.
On The 12th December 2019 The Deptford Ragged Trust bought the land. A whole community of people, along with their friends and family, and other churches and grant making trusts, dug deep and gave generously to make it happen. It's mind-blowing to think that we have been given and granted over £756,000 to buy the land. 80% of this money was granted by one trust on the condition that we go ahead with our plans to build socially affordable homes on the site. If we don’t redevelop in this way then the money will have to go back - we have five years (from Dec 2019) to get it going - the clock is ticking!
The developer
J49 is a brand new bespoke local RP (Registered Provider of Social Housing).
Innovative, conscientious build
J49 is seeking to minimise negative environmental impact during and after the build by installing ground source heating and using a modular build system developed by Modulous, whose system “provides people with quality homes, engages local employment to deliver them, reduces our client’s risk whilst protecting the planet.”
When will it happen?
Since receiving planning permission in December 2020 we have been working hard to fulfil the planning conditions, complete the detailed design specifications, finalise the costs, produce the necessary legal agreements and make a plan to decant our current activities during the build. We hope to move out of the Shaftesbury Christian Centre during the spring of 2022. The building will then be knocked down and the works can begin. We will then move back in 2023, along with 33 new residents.
What will we do for up to two years during the build?
We want to carry on everything we are doing now. We would like to keep everything local and in one place. We welcome ideas and suggestions if you know of somewhere?
Can’t we just leave things as they are?
No - we started this process for two reasons. One - we think it is a great idea, and two - In 2017 the previous freeholders of the land told us that they were going to sell. So, we either had to move out or buy it. We had to act fast to try and save the land, along with a 175 year legacy of worshipping and serving in Deptford. It was a case of us buying the land or it going to the highest bidder. That’s when we started the process of saving the site by claiming some beneficial ownership and raising money. There is no turning back! If we do turn back then the land will have to be sold to cover the conditional grant and the development costs so far!
Is God in all this?
The vision to redevelop this site has been dreamed about, hoped for and discussed for many years. Just as He did for those before us, we believe God has given us a vision to see this place serve the community of Deptford for future generations “for the Glory of God and the Good of the Poor”. Our plan is providing purpose-built housing where it is needed, a welcoming community space for different groups to come into, and an amazing facility to gather for worship.
Now’s the time to make a noise about this project and raise money.
If you would like to give directly to The Ragged Project, please email finance@thebear.tv - or use the following details (including the reference ‘The Ragged Project’):
HSBC - The Bear Church - Sort Code: 40-02-25 - Account Number: 21361317
GIFT AID: IF YOU ARE A UK TAX PAYER:
The Ragged Project is able to claim back the tax you have paid on your gift. Please contact finance@thebear.tv with your full name, address and postcode if you are able to do this.
