The working group met a total of twelve times throughout the first five -months of 2009. We invited a number of people to join us to share their particular -perspectives on the matter, solicited information from a number of different -constituencies via questionnaires and held two open meetings for Friends and -attenders to share with us their answers to the question "What is your vision for the Quaker presence and witness in -Central Edinburgh for the next 20 years."
+months of 2009. Over th course of thos meetings we invited a number of people to join us to share their particular +perspectives on the matter: +We also solicited information from a number of different +constituencies via questionnaires and held two open meetings, at which around 60 Friends and +attenders, mostly, but not entirely, from Central Edinburgh, shared with us their answers to the question "What is your vision for the Quaker presence and witness in +Central Edinburgh for the next 20 years?"
Our conclusions can be summarised in terms of a sequence of choices, each leading to a situation with costs and benefits. The primary choice is, do we stay in 7 Victoria Terrace, or do we leave it? If we leave, do we @@ -103,7 +111,7 @@
The children were in the basement in three small rooms. The young people were like sardines in the smallest room. The -crèche was at the front of the building and the 5-12s at the back---neither +crèche was at the front of the building and the 5–12s at the back---neither room was very big and there was very little room for storage.
There was lack of office space.
@@ -162,11 +170,12 @@The building was in quite a poor state when it was purchased by the Monthly Meeting. -Apart from the internal work which gave us the basic rooms layout, substantial repair work had to be undertaken to repair badly weathered sandstone on the exterior and some roof repairs were also necessary. Urgent repair to stonework was necessary in 2007-8 to make the building safe and opportunity was taken, while the scaffolding was in place, to do general stonework improvement with a view to preventing the need for further such work for the next 20 years or so. +Apart from the internal work which gave us the basic rooms layout, substantial repair work had to be undertaken to repair badly weathered sandstone on the exterior and some roof repairs were also necessary. Urgent repair to stonework was necessary in 2007–8 to make the building safe and opportunity was taken, while the scaffolding was in place, to do general stonework improvement with a view to preventing the need for further such work for the next 20 years or so.
There follows a description of each room, working down from the top.
@@ -205,7 +214,9 @@ The Bow Room, accessed from the foyer by a corridor (with two steps) and with its own outside door to Upper Bow, was, for the first 20 years of Quaker ownership, let to charities (most recently International Voluntary Service) for office hours use, -with the Monthly Meeting retaining the right to use it in the evenings and at weekends. It was redecorated and re-carpeted in 2002. IVS, who rented the room at considerably less than its commercial value, moved out in 2008, at which point the room became available for meeting use throughout the week. +with the Monthly Meeting retaining the right to use it in the evenings +and at weekends. It was redecorated and re-carpeted in 2002. +International Voluntary Service, who rented the room at considerably less than its commercial value, moved out in 2008, at which point the room became available for meeting use throughout the week.The spacious top floor two-bedroomed flat, owned by the Meeting, is occupied by the Managers. Some basic improvement work was done to this when it was purchased and secondary glazing has subsequently been installed in both bedrooms. It is in reasonable order and has gas-fired central heating, but the roof is poorly insulated. @@ -286,7 +304,7 @@
Income from lettings in 1994 was about £14,000. Given stable management and the resulting improved standards of service offered to users, this grew quite rapidly with increasing use of the building. As lettings increased, there were some small tensions regarding Quaker use during the week. Quaker committees had been accustomed to turning up, sometimes without booking, and finding there was a room available. They now found they had to book and then had to book longer and longer in advance to ensure a room was free. An attempt was made to solve this problem by setting the Library apart one evening each week for Quaker use, but this (unsurprisingly) failed – the evening so reserved seldom suited the committee that wanted it – so committees and groups which were unable to plan sufficiently in advance became accustomed to meeting in homes. +
Income from lettings in 1994 was about £14,000. Given stable management and the resulting improved standards of service offered to users, this grew quite rapidly with increasing use of the building. As lettings increased, there were some small tensions regarding Quaker use during the week. Quaker committees had been accustomed to turning up, sometimes without booking, and finding there was a room available. They now found they had to book and then had to book longer and longer in advance to ensure a room was free. An attempt was made to solve this problem by setting the Library apart one evening each week for Quaker use, but this (unsurprisingly) failed—the evening so reserved seldom suited the committee that wanted it—so committees and groups which were unable to plan sufficiently in advance became accustomed to meeting in homes.
A two tier letting charge system has been developed over the years, with a lower charge for charitable and grass-roots groups and higher charges for local and national government and commercial groups and classes. There has been some measure of negotiation on charges, at the discretion of the wardens/managers, with, for example, new grass-roots groups being given use below the charitable rate until they became established. An eye has been kept on rates charged by comparable buildings in the neighbourhood and there has been co-operation on this, especially with Augustine United and St Columba's-by-the-Castle. The busyness of the building increased steadily until, for several years, it was about as full as it reasonably could be, from 9 am @@ -302,25 +320,41 @@
At the time that Phil and Pat Lucas were appointed, Marion Morton was clerk of General Meeting for -Scotland. She was also part of the group providing a Quaker presence in 7 Victoria Terrace and she combined these two roles by doing her GM work in the Meeting House Office one day a week, providing cover for a wardens' day off. +Scotland. She was also part of the group providing a Quaker presence +in 7 Victoria Terrace and she combined these two roles by doing her +General Meeting work in the Meeting House Office one day a week, providing cover for a wardens' day off.
-A GM group was then looking at developing the Quaker base and presence in -Scotland, including the appointment of an administrative assistant to support the GM Clerk. It was thought by some that this should be +
A General Meeting group was then looking at developing the Quaker base and presence in +Scotland, including the appointment of an administrative assistant to +support the General Meeting Clerk. It was thought by some that this should be Edinburgh-based, working from 7 Victoria Terrace. Quaker Link Scotland -was born. Phil Lucas was, early in 1995, appointed to the Quaker Home Service Outreach Committee and he, followed by Pat, were appointed General Meeting Outreach Function Group conveners, so one aspect of the QLS development was that the Edinburgh Meeting House became an outreach base for Scotland. Enquirers packs were sent to Scottish enquirers from here, in consultation with QHS Outreach in Friends House. There was thought that the Bow Room could become the Quaker Link +was born. Phil Lucas was, early in 1995, appointed to the Quaker Home +Service Outreach Committee and he, followed by Pat, were appointed +General Meeting Outreach Function Group conveners, so one aspect of +the Quaker Link Scotland development was that the Edinburgh Meeting +House became an outreach base for Scotland. Enquirers packs were sent +to Scottish enquirers from here, in consultation with Quaker Home Service Outreach in Friends House. There was thought that the Bow Room could become the Quaker Link Scotland office.
-There was concern in some other Scottish Area Meetings about Scottish Quaker affairs becoming too Edinburgh-based, which may have contributed to the end of Quaker Link Scotland's short life, but the fatal blow was that, when the paid administrative assistant post was advertised, the successful candidate lived on the Moray coast and preferred to work from home. The GM clerkship at the same time moved away from the South East. When Pat and Phil Lucas's outreach appointments came to their end, it was no longer appropriate to send enquirers' packs to Scottish enquirers from the 7VT office, (although they continued to do so for a year or two on a voluntary basis). The last vestiges of Quaker Link +
There was concern in some other Scottish Area Meetings about +Scottish Quaker affairs becoming too Edinburgh-based, which may have +contributed to the end of Quaker Link Scotland's short life, but the +fatal blow was that, when the paid administrative assistant post was +advertised, the successful candidate lived on the Moray coast and +preferred to work from home. The General Meeting clerkship at the +same time moved away from the South East. When Pat and Phil Lucas's +outreach appointments came to their end, it was no longer appropriate +to send enquirers' packs to Scottish enquirers from the 7 Victoria Terrace office, (although they continued to do so for a year or two on a voluntary basis). The last vestiges of Quaker Link Scotland thus disappeared.
The Festival Committee introduced a tiered seating rake to the hall, turning it into a 65 seat black box theatre, for the first time in August 1995. Use of the theatre that year was dominated by one theatre group, which was reluctant to share facilities with others. Setting up the theatre in this way involved considerable hire costs, so the Committee decided for 1996 to take firmer control and, to recoup hire costs, to run for three weeks. Use of the space developed over subsequent years until there were up to six shows per day, six days each week, with the café now open also for three weeks. The increased staffing this required was provided almost entirely from volunteers, many of them Quakers from other parts of Britain @@ -433,18 +467,20 @@
-For about the first 15 years, until 2004, of its operation, Victoria Terrace covered its general running costs, there was a balance between income and expenditure. From 2005 onwards there has been a growing annual `loss'; when calculated in this way. The latter has been due to a combination of reduced income from lettings, especially in the last two years, and the cost of redecoration including new carpets, improvements to the lift, roof repairs and insulation to the property having been undertaken. There has also been an increase in staffing costs over the same period with them assuming greater responsibility for internal financial matters and providing more intensive cover from 0900 to 2200 each weekday. The deficit, ranging from £12k to £30,000 per annum, has been met from Area Meeting contributions from Friends and attenders. The contribution to Britain Yearly Meeting has, as a consequence, had to be reduced. Throughout the two decades it has not been possible to set aside sufficient funds for undertaking large pieces of work that regularly occur, whether major repairs or improvements. +For about the first 15 years, until 2004, of its operation, Victoria Terrace covered its general running costs, there was a balance between income and expenditure. From 2005 onwards there has been a growing annual `loss'; when calculated in this way. The latter has been due to a combination of reduced income from lettings, especially in the last two years, and the cost of redecoration including new carpets, improvements to the lift, roof repairs and insulation to the property having been undertaken. There has also been an increase in staffing costs over the same period with them assuming greater responsibility for internal financial matters and providing more intensive cover from 0900 to 2200 each weekday. The deficit, ranging from £12,000 to £30,000 per annum, has been met from Area Meeting contributions from Friends and attenders. The contribution to Britain Yearly Meeting has, as a consequence, had to be reduced. Throughout the two decades it has not been possible to set aside sufficient funds for undertaking large pieces of work that regularly occur, whether major repairs or improvements.
Given the limited number of rooms that are available to let, the management @@ -468,15 +504,15 @@
-At present there is a meeting for worship on Sunday mornings at 11.00am which sixty +At present there is a meeting for worship on Sunday mornings at 1100 which sixty plus people attend. After meeting there is coffee or tea in the library, and then a simple lunch (soup, bread and cheese) in the hall. Central Edinburgh is a big meeting and people value the opportunity to get to know each other better over lunch.
-There is a mid-week meeting for worship on Wednesday at 12.30pm which up to twenty people attend. Some people like a smaller meeting or perhaps cannot always manage a Sunday. This meeting for worship lasts about thirty minutes and is also followed by a simple lunch.
+There is a mid-week meeting for worship on Wednesday at 1230 which up to twenty people attend. Some people like a smaller meeting or perhaps cannot always manage a Sunday. This meeting for worship lasts about thirty minutes and is also followed by a simple lunch.
People who completed a questionnaire felt the library was a good place to have this meeting for worship and lunch afterwards.
People felt it was important to have a central location that is normally accessible by bus. The building itself is not so good for the less physically able and some people do rely on buses coming close to the Meeting House. Access within the Meeting House is good but the toilets need improving.
-There is also now an early bird meeting for worship on weekdays at 8.00am lasting thirty minutes. This is a small meeting, but valued by those who come.
-Elders are currently looking at having another meeting for worship on Sundays, either at 9.30am or Sunday evening.
-Children’s meeting for worship takes place every Sunday. The children meet at 11.00am for their own programme and join the adult meeting at 11.45am
+There is also now an early bird meeting for worship on weekdays at 0800 lasting thirty minutes. This is a small meeting, but valued by those who come.
+Elders are currently looking at having another meeting for worship on Sundays, either at 0930 or Sunday evening.
+Children’s meeting for worship takes place every Sunday. The children meet at 1100 for their own programme and join the adult meeting at 1145
On the second Sunday of the month there is an all age meeting for worship held in the hall to which all are welcome. This meeting for worship is programmed, normally lasts thirty to forty minutes, and is well attended by families and other regular attenders from the meeting.
We occasionally have “special” all age worship such as the welcome of new babies and children. This is an Area Meeting event, and others from Area Meeting come along to be @@ -488,9 +524,9 @@
The main use of the Meeting House as a venue is for voluntary and community groups who want a relatively cheap but central location for one-off meetings, or a series of meetings, or one day conferences with a good ambiance. (People frequently say they do not like the formal service they get from hotels). We are not in the market for corporate events.
This means our clients cannot afford commercial rates that would bring us a clear profit. However the small number of rooms available limits the number of staff required for cleaning and catering.
7 Victoria Terrace is not in the same league as other large Meeting Houses such as Friends House or Manchester Mount Street, to be a large Quaker centre.
-The Meeting House is open every day from 9.00am – 10.00pm and five hours on Sunday. The managers, Anthony and Sue Buxton, are employed for twenty hours a week each but in fact work nearer thirty-four hours a week.
+The Meeting House is open every day from 0900 to 2200 and five hours on Sunday. The managers, Anthony and Sue Buxton, are employed for twenty hours a week each but in fact work nearer thirty-four hours a week.
Tom Nisbet, assistant warden is employed for three days a week. In addition there are a number of staff working a varying number of hours a week.
-To give an idea of the pattern of non–Quaker lettings we have taken a recent six-week +
To give an idea of the pattern of non-Quaker lettings we have taken a recent six-week period and have looked at the groups who used the Meeting House and how long the lets were for. The two figures below summarise the results.
The use of the building for the Festival is a major undertaking (see 3.3.4). The main hall is made into a small theatre with raked seating. Several small theatre groups rent this space during the Festival.
-There is also the Rainforest Café that runs at the same time-from around 10.00am-6.00pm. The income form this has increased over the years but again last year there was a drop. The main income is from the theatre lettings but the café does not make much of a profit but adds to the feel and ethos of the venue.
+There is also the Rainforest Café that runs at the same time-from around 1000–1800. The income form this has increased over the years but again last year there was a drop. The main income is from the theatre lettings but the café does not make much of a profit but adds to the feel and ethos of the venue.
@@ -741,25 +777,25 @@ the front desk when the building is open.
-Reasons for reducing the opening hours : reducing costs- heating, lighting and staff cover and reducing wear and tear on the fabric of the building +Reasons for reducing the opening hours : reducing costs—heating, lighting and staff cover and reducing wear and tear on the fabric of the building
Reasons for not reducing opening hours: reduced lettings and reduced income, as well as reduced facilities for Quakers and non-Quakers using the building and reduced opportunities for outreach.
-Hospitality, information and outreach: the Meeting House is centrally located and attracts many visitors – reduced opening hours would limit contact with the public, it may affect bookings if enquiries are not answered in person (rather than on-line or by leaving a message on an answer-phone) and may reduce first-timers coming to Meeting for Worship. +Hospitality, information and outreach: the Meeting House is centrally located and attracts many visitors—reduced opening hours would limit contact with the public, it may affect bookings if enquiries are not answered in person (rather than on-line or by leaving a message on an answer-phone) and may reduce first-timers coming to Meeting for Worship.
-Other alternatives – all of which would reduce costs, reduce income and contact with the general public, visitors, newcomers and passers-by therefore reducing outreach opportunities:
+Other alternatives—all of which would reduce costs, reduce income and contact with the general public, visitors, newcomers and passers-by therefore reducing outreach opportunities:How the practicalities and the vision fit (or don't). What does AM do
+ How the practicalities and the vision fit (or
+don't). What does Area Meeting do
next. . .