PEOPLE are being urged to join a campaign to save a Gillingham venue from closure.

Gillingham Methodist Church has been a main hub for the community for generations, be it as a place of prayer, for parent-and-child groups, societies, musical groups, health and wellbeing initiatives, even parties or concerts.

However, the church is struggling financially and is now looking to sell the building, off the High Street.

In a bid to save the space, a group is attempting to put together a last-gasp push to secure the venue as a creative arts hub to provide a range of services.

Securing the future of the building for current groups, the group has ambitious plans to introduce new projects along with facilities such as dance studios, performance spaces, cafes and teaching rooms.

Leading the rallying cry is Mark James, owner and leader of ROKiT, a choir that has regularly used the church for over five years.

“I cannot emphasise enough how vital this building is for the local community,” he said.

“It is the only venue in Gillingham that is open and accessible to the public that can hold large gatherings of people. It already hosts many local societies and groups, all of which would struggle to find new venues if the church is lost.

“Gillingham as a town has grown substantially over the years and yet the facilities for the local residents have not kept up. Losing this facility will have a substantial and long-term effect on the town as a whole.”

While estimates for the scheme project costs running in to the millions, Mark is confident it could be a success.

“This arts hub, if it comes to fruition, will not only serve the residents and could help to start a regeneration in the town centre,” he said.

“And as a not-for-profit organisation, this will be a community project run by the community, for the community.”

The project has also been brought to the attention of local high-profile names in the arts industry, with hopes the money will be raised by applying for a combination of local and national grants, and lottery and arts funding, as well as concerts and fundraising events.

“Our biggest challenge is time, or at least the lack of it,” Mark added. “We must have a fully-funded proposal in by the end of August this year, so we need help to get things together and done properly. Both to get the word out and also to help with the behind-the-scenes work.”

The group is now appealing for anyone that would be able to give their time to help, with a meeting planned to allow residents to make suggestions and meet some of the team leading the effort.

For more information, join the Facebook group ‘Gillingham Creative Arts Centre – Support Group’ or log on to https://gillinghamartscentre.godaddysites.com.