A CHURCH which faced the threat of closure is set to become a vital hub of the community thanks to lottery grants.

In July the Star reported that Holy Trinity church, in Fingerpost, had benefitted from £239,400 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for wholesale restoration works.

Now the church premises will offer a range of services to help tackle economic issues thanks to an additional £8,075 grant from the Lottery’s Awards for All and Helena’s Community fund.

A number of laptops and other computer equipment have been purchased to develop the IT suite, which will be used to help tackle inequalities.

The new suite can support residents by offering arrange of financial advice and give access to accredited or non-accredited training courses, employment and CV support and welfare reform and budgeting sessions.

“We want to let people know that we are moving on with this,” said Mel Mulcahy, neighbourhood development officer at Helena.

“There’s a whole host of support in place for residents. It will offer support in regards to financial and debt advice, if people are in rent arrears they can apply for grants and there are also basic IT services.”

Based on Traverse Street, the church, which has Grade II status, is commonly known as the Giraffe Church thanks to its distinctive brickwork.

In 2006 the Victorian Society pleaded for its rescue after suggestions that the manner of its original construction would make repairs difficult, leaving the threat of closure looming in the background.

But thanks to the heritage grant the church is set to undergo its huge transformation with work on the roof first on the agenda for the long-term project.

The focus will then move to inside the church, where disabled facilities will be improved along with a revamp of the kitchens.