Is your community group considering taking on — or already managing — a ru ral place of worship?
\n \nCaring for a historic building is a significant responsibility\, and this introductor y day will help you understand the practical steps needed to keep your building in good condition an d support the long-term success of your project. T hrough a mixture of talks\, workshop sessions\, an d practical activities\, participants will gain a clearer understanding of both building care and da y-to-day operations management.
\n \nOur expert speakers and w orkshop leaders will cover topics including fire s afety\, health and safety\, building maintenance\, safeguarding\, keyholder responsibilities\, facil ities and operations management\, and planning for long-term sustainability. Contributors will inclu de representatives from Development Trusts Associa tion Scotland\, Bedrule Community Group\, and SPAB Scotland.
\n \nYou’ll also have the opportunity to put your l earning into practice through a short hands-on exe rcise examining the host building\, inside and out \, to identify maintenance issues and areas of vul nerability. There will be time to discuss the spec ific needs of your own building with course tutors and fellow participants.
\n \nAlongside practical knowledge a nd advice\, participants will leave with a toolkit of resources to help support future decision-maki ng and the ongoing care and management of their bu ilding. With a better understanding of traditional building construction and the practical applicati on of modern regulations\, you’ll leave equipped w ith the knowledge and confidence to take your proj ect forward.
\n \nThis course is aimed at community gr oups who have either already taken ownership of a church building\, or are considering doing so in t he near future. Community group representatives\, and their professional advisors are all very welco me\, as are those with a more general interest in facilities management and maintenance of historic buildings.
\n \nYour community group does not have to be ‘ful ly formed’ - in fact this will be very useful for those in the fledgling stages.
\n \nBy the end of this course\, you will understand
\n \nBuilding maintenance basics and why they are important
\nHealth and Safety Regulations relevant to the situation
\nFire an d Insurance requirements
\nKeyholders\, safeguarding and much more
\n < /li>\nA
ndrew Aldous – specialist in Facilities Management
for Development Trust Association Scotland (DTAS)
\n Claire Martin – Church specialist for DT
AS
\n Roger Curtis – Conservation Building S
urveyor
\n Lucy Stewart – Conservation Archi
tect\, SPAB Scholar and Scotland Officer for SPAB
Scotland
\n Alan Bailey – Chair\, Bedrule Ch
urch Future & Building Surveyor (ret’d)
There is no formal assessment for this course\, but we c an provide a Certificate of Attendance upon reques t.
\n \nPlease wear warm\, comfortable layers and sturdy and clo sed shoes. We recommend bringing a raincoat or umb rella for the practical exercise as part of it wil l be outdoors.
\n \nLunch is provided\, and we will supply ref reshments on arrival.
\n \nSeating is available during the presentations in the church hall. The o bservation exercise involves a 20-minute walk insi de and outside the church\, with periods of standi ng and looking upwards.
\nThe church is accessible on a flat path with a short flight of steps into the ch urch hall. There may be uneven surfaces in and aro und the church
\nWheel cha ir access is available from the parking near the C hurch via the rear Vestry door
\nThere is limited on-str eet parking near the church – please be respectful of residents needs. Toilets are available
\nThere is no public transport to Bedrule. Trains run from Edi nburgh to Hawick - we may be able to arrange colle ctions from a local train/bus terminus.
\n \nAnything we can do to make thi s event more accessible for you? Please email education@spab.org.uk.
\n \nWe are grateful to Historic Environment Scotlan d for funding this event.
\n \nThanks are due also to Develop ment Trust Association Scotland for supporting thi s event as part of their wider work with community bodies owning or buying Church buildings.
\n \nPhotos and filming:We may take photos or videos at this event to be used in future promotion\, including in print and online. Participants may take photos and short vid eos for personal use\, with permission of the cour se leader and all other participants in frame. If you want to post on social media\, please message SPAB's Comms Team (press@spab.org.uk or @spab1877) for permission. If your material is good\, we mig ht ask to share it with our followers.
\n \nAll bookings are subject to our Term s and Conditions.
\n \nPhoto credit: Be drule Church Future
DESCRIPTION:Wednesday 23 September 2026\, 11am-3pm\n \n \n Is your community group considering taking on — or al ready managing — a rural place of worship? \n \n \ n \n Caring for a historic building is a significa nt responsibility\, and this introductory day will help you understand the practical steps needed to keep your building in good condition and support the long-term success of your project. Through a m ixture of talks\, workshop sessions\, and practica l activities\, participants will gain a clearer un derstanding of both building care and day-to-day o perations management. \n \n \n \n Our expert speak ers and workshop leaders will cover topics includi ng fire safety\, health and safety\, building main tenance\, safeguarding\, keyholder responsibilitie s\, facilities and operations management\, and pla nning for long-term sustainability. Contributors w ill include representatives from Development Trust s Association Scotland\, Bedrule Community Group\, and SPAB Scotland. \n \n \n \n You’ll also have t he opportunity to put your learning into practice through a short hands-on exercise examining the ho st building\, inside and out\, to identify mainten ance issues and areas of vulnerability. There will be time to discuss the specific needs of your own building with course tutors and fellow participan ts. \n \n \n \n Alongside practical knowledge and advice\, participants will leave with a toolkit of resources to help support future decision-making and the ongoing care and management of their build ing. With a better understanding of traditional bu ilding construction and the practical application of modern regulations\, you’ll leave equipped with the knowledge and confidence to take your project forward. \n \n \n \n Who is this course for?\n \n \n This course is aimed at community groups who h ave either already taken ownership of a church bui lding\, or are considering doing so in the near fu ture. Community group representatives\, and their professional advisors are all very welcome\, as ar e those with a more general interest in facilities management and maintenance of historic buildings. \n \n \n \n Your community group does not have t o be ‘fully formed’ - in fact this will be very us eful for those in the fledgling stages. \n \n \n \ n You will learn\n \n \n By the end of this course \, you will understand \n \n \n \n \n \n Buildin g maintenance basics and why they are important \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Health and Safety Regulat ions relevant to the situation \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Fire and Insurance requirements \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Keyholders\, safeguarding and muc h more \n \n \n \n \n \n Course Tutors\n \n \n An drew Aldous – specialist in Facilities Management for Development Trust Association Scotland (DTAS) \n \n Claire Martin – Church specialist for DTAS \ n \n Roger Curtis – Conservation Building Surveyor \n \n Lucy Stewart – Conservation Architect\, SPA B Scholar and Scotland Officer for SPAB Scotland \ n \n Alan Bailey – Chair\, Bedrule Church Future & Building Surveyor (ret’d) \n \n \n \n Assessment / Accreditation\n \n \n There is no formal assessm ent for this course\, but we can provide a Certifi cate of Attendance upon request. \n \n \n \n You w ill need\n \n \n Please wear warm\, comfortable la yers and sturdy and closed shoes. We recommend bri nging a raincoat or umbrella for the practical exe rcise as part of it will be outdoors. \n \n \n \n Lunch is provided\, and we will supply refreshment s on arrival. \n \n \n \n Accessibility\n \n \n \n \n Seating is available during the presentation s in the church hall. The observation exercise inv olves a 20-minute walk inside and outside the chur ch\, with periods of standing and looking upwards. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n The church is accessib le on a flat path with a short flight of steps int o the church hall. There may be uneven surfaces in and around the church \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Wheel chair access is available from the parking n ear the Church via the rear Vestry door \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n There is limited on-street parkin g near the church – please be respectful of reside nts needs. Toilets are available \n \n \n \n \n \ n \n \n There is no public transport to Bedrule. Trains run from Edinburgh to Hawick - we may be able to arrange collections from a local train/bus terminus. \n \n \n \n \n \n Anything we can do t o make this event more accessible for you? Please email education@spab.org.uk (mailto:education@spab .org.uk). \n \n \n \n Sponsors and Partners\n \n \ n We are grateful to Historic Environment Scotland for funding this event. \n \n \n \n Thanks are d ue also to Development Trust Association Scotland for supporting this event as part of their wider w ork with community bodies owning or buying Church buildings. \n \n \n \n \n Photos and filming:We ma y take photos or videos at this event to be used i n future promotion\, including in print and online . Participants may take photos and short videos fo r personal use\, with permission of the course lea der and all other participants in frame. If you wa nt to post on social media\, please message SPAB's Comms Team (press@spab.org.uk or @spab1877) for p ermission. If your material is good\, we might ask to share it with our followers.\n \n \n \n All bo okings are subject to our Terms and Conditions (ht tps://www.spab.org.uk/content/booking-terms-and-co nditions).\n \n \n \n Photo credit: Bedrule Church Future\n \n CATEGORIES:Course CALSCALE:GREGORIAN DTSTAMP;TZID=Europe/London:20260923T110000 DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260923T110000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260923T150000 LOCATION:Bedrul Church\n Hawick\n SCB TD9 8TE\n United King dom\n URL:https://www.spab.org.uk/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=1450 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR