PROPERTY DEPARTMENT

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Welcome to the Diocesan Property Department pages

The Diocesan Property Department provides property related professional advice and assistance to parishes, schools and Catholic charities within the Diocese. Its work includes ensuring parishes regularly assess the condition of their properties and carry out repairs and maintenance and managing a similar programme for schools.

The department looks after insurance issues relating to Diocesan properties and provides advice on Health & Safety issues and good practice affecting anyone who visits, worships or works in Diocesan properties.

It also provides pre- and post- contract  “client representative” advice relating to alterations to existing Diocesan buildings and the construction of new facilities, churches and schools as well as managing building projects.

The Property Department is based at the Hallam Pastoral Centre, St Charles Street, Sheffield, S9 3WU.  Our normal office hours are 8.30am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday. The best way to contact us is to email [email protected].  The office phone is regularly monitored for voicemail messages, but email will generally elicit a quicker response. (Please noteby emailing us, you consent to your submitted details being collected, stored and used by the Diocese of Hallam only for the purpose or purposes for which you have provided them to us. Read more in our Privacy and Security Policy.).

Click here for a map and transport details.

Upcoming Events

There are no upcoming events.

Department staff

Property Manager: Mr John Clarke  Bsc (Hons)

Secretary: Mrs Jessica Moylan

 Gutter cleaning - Use the SkyVac!

skyvac One of the most important regular maintenance tasks for all buildings is the cleaning of gutters and rainwater pipes. Inevitably, gutters are located at heights that require a ladder or a mobile scaffold tower to reach them. Using a ladder to clean gutters is not recommended by risk assessment as it is very often hazardous with few precautions possible to make it safer.

To assist and support parishes in cleaning gutters on parish buildings in a safe manner without the need to use ladders or mobile tower scaffolds, the Diocese of Hallam has purchased an industrial-grade gutter cleaning machine - a SkyVac. The machine can reach to eaves heights of 12 metres (40 feet) using sectional lightweight carbon-fibre tubes and is equipped with a wireless camera to aid inspection and cleaning. (Similar machines are being used increasingly by commercial gutter cleaning contractors).skyvac 2

Parishes are able to borrow the machine free-of-charge by arrangement and after attending a short induction session to provide training in its safe use. Alternatively, the Diocese has linked up with a local contractor who can carry out your gutter cleaning, charging parishes a modest hourly rate plus travel costs.

The SkyVac is capable of removing large built-up blockages in gutters safely, although there will be occasions when other methods of clearance will be necessary e.g. concealed and parapet gutters.

In addition, the SkyVac machine is suitable for the safe cleaning high level interior surfaces such as roof beams, clerestory windows and high level ledges in churches.

If you want to borrow the SkyVac or wish to arrange for the contractor to visit your parish, please contact the Property Department.

Maintaining your buildings

man doing maintenanceThe old adage "a stitch in time saves nine" applies to many things including the maintenance of buildings, especially parish buildings. Caring for buildings involves two principle activities - 'looking' and 'doing'. The Catholic Bishops Conference provides guidance to parishes for the care of Catholic churches - link to webpage. The National Churches Trust website is also valuable resource with good advice on maintenance for parishes to consider and follow.

A useful maintenance checklist (pdf) can be downloaded here - it was originally compiled as part of the Faith in Maintenance project.

Parishes requiring advice on selecting and appointing competent maintenance contractors should contact the Property Department. The Property Department can provide support and advice on all matters concerned with the use, care and maintenance of parish buildings.

 

Catholic Voluntary Academy schools

Condition Improvement Fund (CIF): 

The latest CIF bidding guidance and timetable can be found on the gov.uk website here.

Voluntary Aided (VA) schools

VA Capital Funding:

Applications are closed for 2022.

Schools Estate Management

The Department of Education has published the Good Estate Management for Schools (GEMS) section on gov.uk here. GEMS contains advice for schools and responsible bodies to help manage their school buildings and land.

Health and Safety Policy

The Diocese of Hallam Health and Safety policy can be downloaded from here and has appointed consultants Safety Toolbox Limited to provide 'competent person' advice and support to the Diocese and all parishes.

The Diocese also subscribes to the online health and safety management system 'Safety Toolbox' to help parishes ensure they are providing safe environments. All parishes have at least one user account. If you would like to be registered as an additional user for your parish or would like any assistance in using it, please contact Jessica Moylan at the Property Department.

Property insurance

The Diocese maintains comprehensive insurance cover for its buildings through the Catholic Insurance Services (http://www.catholicinsuranceservices.co.uk).

If you need to submit an insurance claim please download a form from this link. Alternatively, e-mail the Property Department ([email protected]) or director of finance Ed Whittaker ([email protected]).

Our normal office hours are 8.30am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday. The best way to contact us is to email [email protected].  The office phone is regularly monitored for voicemail messages, but email will generally elicit a quicker response.


Address:
Diocese of Hallam Property Department
Hallam Pastoral Centre
St Charles Street
SHEFFIELD
S9 3WU


Phone: 0114 256 6420
Email: [email protected]. Please noteby emailing us, you consent to your submitted details being collected, stored and used by the Diocese of Hallam only for the purpose or purposes for which you have provided them to us. Read more in our Privacy and Security Policy.

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