A church could be opened up to the community as an event space and boost the local economy.

Stir to Action, a non-profit organisation based in Bridport, supports community economic development and is set to launch a funded pilot project that could see the United Church, on East Street, used as an event space and run by locals.

Such projects are run by the community for the benefit of the community.

The year-long scheme is part of the organisation’s Unlocking the Next Economy project, which aims to explore how church buildings can become assets for areas.

Following two open days last month, 10 residents have worked a working group and Stir to Action is hosting a free 16-week training programme, funded by the Friends Provident Foundation, from now until June to help them create a new event enterprise.

They have been invited to take part in the free enterprise programme to support them in designing, creating and launching their new enterprise, and Bridport is just one of three locations in the south west to be chosen for the pilot.

The programme will feature workshops on idea development, business planning, legal models and governance, fundraising, and marketing.

Stir to Action’s Jonny Gordon-Farleigh said: “There is a need within communities for physical spaces and it’s hard for people to get their hands on buildings. Austerity has led to a huge loss in public spaces and so we are trying to bring together our experience in community enterprise with that need. Churches are underused and communities lack spaces so we are bringing them together.

“It’s an exciting time for the United Church. We’ve had our first boot camp and have a really good group on board.”

The United Church was redeveloped as part of a £400,000 project in 2014. The development has created a multi-use space which, according to Stir to Action, makes it capable of hosting workshops, conferences, live music, local development planning meetings, dance sessions, film screenings and art exhibitions for the local community. It hopes locals who have become involved in the project will help to utilise the church space to its full potential.

Visit events@stirtoaction.com