COMMUNITY AUDIT
In the summer of 2003, we carried out a Community Audit. 500 questionnaires were distributed as widely as possible, and interviews were carried out with many providers of services, statutory, voluntary and commercial. On behalf of the University, the Chaplain was most helpful in giving his comments. Questionnaires were also distributed to commuters on Surbiton Station for three days, courtesy of the Station Manager. We are enormously grateful to all those who agreed to be interviewed, and to the 294 people (a very high response rate) who took the time and care to respond to our questionnaires. We are equally grateful to Kingston YMCA for the hospitality of its Surbiton Centre, and its support and encouragement of the project.

These extracts are taken from "Surbiton: a community study" by Mavis Cracknell and John James, edited by April Hamer. Copies are available from the Parish Office.

From the INTRODUCTION
Despite what may seem sometimes to the outside world as a pre-occupation with buildings and their maintenance, the Church is about people and exists for people. Rather than bricks and mortar and keeping it all together, the Church is about fostering good relationships and nurturing healthy people. This is one aspect of what it means to be 'church'.
Located geographically at the commercial centre of Surbiton, the Parish of St Andrew & St Mark is the Anglican expression of church. While we acknowledge that there are other Christian churches and faith communities present in the area, as part of the Church of England, the Churches of St Andrew and St Mark and their congregations understand themselves to be called to serve all who live within the parish boundaries. These were largely determined in the nineteenth century by the river, the railway line and various water works. Since the coming of the railway, Surbiton has experienced considerable growth and the demographic changes have been significant, not least in recent years.
The Church is not immune from these developments and needs constantly to reflect on how to be 'church' in an ever-changing world. Inspired by the words of the prophet Jeremiah "seek the welfare of the city for in its welfare is your welfare", the parish has been engaged in a lengthy process of reflection and consultation, the better to understand both its context and its role against a background of change. More recently considerable time and energy has been devoted to seeking to understand more clearly what makes or would make for the wellbeing (welfare) of all who live in Surbiton. ... For its own health and welfare the Church cannot ignore the needs of the community in which it is set. For that community the Church has a duty of care and a responsibility to share in the democratic process.
John Tidy and Val Cory

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

SURBITON NEEDS
From the questionnaire it seems that many people in our part of Surbiton want:

• a quiet, reflective space
• youth club(s) / activities
• a drop-in centre for older people
• and meeting rooms for groups to use.

We also want:

• citizens' advice, legal aid services
• better (more NHS) dentistry services
• better (quicker access) GP services
• and more local jobs (reducing the need to commute.

Our local businesses want more parking facilities.

FACILITIES
When we amalgamate the questionnaire comments with the interview data it would appear that we need a large, modern and multi-functional building that offers a variety of facilities including:

• office space
• large and small storage spaces
• small rooms set up for listening and counselling and small group meetings (including political party and community group surgeries, and advice sessions)
• medium-sized rooms for activities such as adult education classes
• substantial hall space where larger scale musical and dancing events (warmth and comfortable seating were mentioned) can take place.

Access for all is essential and must satisfy the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act. A kitchen and fully equipped utility room, space large enough to hang coats, and adequate toilets are required.
Some sort of youth centre(s) or somewhere where youth activities can be set up, especially for 11-16 year olds. A sports centre offering a wide range of sporting (the key factor) and other creative-type activities is also needed.

SERVICES
In terms of services the most important factors arising out of the interviews suggest that our area of Surbiton needs:

• more volunteers - although many groups are coping well, others need lots more volunteers (they could offer a wider range of services and respond more quickly if they had more)
• a befriending service to visit older people in their homes and provide one-to-one contact (with perhaps opportunities to go shopping, be taken to/from the local church and given help getting to hospital and GP surgeries) which may lead to having somewhere to go and more things to do.