South Leicestershire MP Alberto Costa welcomed the awarding of £243,180 in match funding for the redevelopment of the old Baptist Church in Whetstone. The funding, awarded to Leicestershire disability charity ‘Mosaic 1898’, will support disabled adults, and provide respite care in the community.
Alberto welcomed the news at the Old Baptist Church with Mr Zoheb Shariff, Chief Executive of Mosaic 1898, and was joined by Councillor Les Phillimore who has been supportive of Mosaic 1898 ambitions.
Mr Shariff explained that the match funding will help start the ambitious redevelopment of the old Baptist Church which will include a community space in The Chapel that will be used to hold events, support groups and outreach services. The Manse which is also part of the site will be renovated to provide round-the-clock respite care for those that need it, with Mosaic’s goal to support disabled adults to develop lifelong skills, build relationships and ensure people with a disability feel empowered and included in society.
Mr Costa said, “It is brilliant news that Mosaic 1898 has been awarded this large sum of money from the UK Community Ownership Fund and I was pleased to have supported their bid. The money that has been awarded will help move this project forward and shows confidence in the plans that have been development by Zoheb Shariff and his team at Mosaic 1898 which will help benefit the local community and those that need to access the services that Mosaic 1898 provide.”
Zoheb Shariff Said “We’re delighted to be awarded this grant from the UK’s Community Ownership Fund – it’s going to make a world of a difference to our project and accelerate our plans to create spaces which enrich the lives of disabled people and empower our community to thrive. This is not just a financial boost; it’s a vote of confidence in our vision and a testament to our commitment to build inclusive and accessible environments where everyone feels embraced, supported, and truly a part of their community. We’re thankful to Alberto Costa MP who continues to champion our project, our local councillors, and the team at Blaby District Council for their on-going support and guidance. We look forward to making a difference and serving the community from the Whetstone Hub for years to come.”
Cllr Les Phillimore "I fully welcome the news that Mosaic 1898 have been awarded a substantial sum of money from the UK Community Ownership Fund, as they look to repurpose the Old Whetstone Baptist Church. As someone that has a family member working within Special Educational Needs sector, the work that Mosaic 1898 will undertake within the local community with this project will come as welcome news and I will continue to support their aims and ambitions."
Mr Costa Said “I look forward to seeing the progress of the redevelopment of the Old Baptist Church over the coming months and will continue to support Zoheb Shariff and the team in Mosaic has their deliver this ambitious project within Whetstone”
