Building a Mandir for the whole community

The Shree Krishna Resource Centre (SKRC) oversees and manages the activities of South Warwickshire’s only Hindu Temple, or Mandir. As a registered charity, it serves the local population in Leamington Spa and provides a spiritual home and community hub for Hindus across Warwick, Solihull and Banbury.

The Mandir also supports the well-being of those living locally, no matter what their faith or background. It works in partnership with other charities and runs a variety of programmes that serve vulnerable groups or make it easier for people to connect with their cultural roots. The charity’s aim is to bring people closer together, through compassionate service and a deep respect for heritage which includes fostering close bonds with Leamington’s Gurdwara, Mosque and many churches.

“In 2029, it will be 50 years since a handful of devotees established the Hindu Religious Association in Leamington and Warwick,” says Gifted’s Andrew Day. “It was the start of a spiritual quest that today translates to over 125 regular worshippers, increasingly popular festivals and a charitable mission that radiates across the town.”

Planning for growth

The charity’s growth reflects a willingness to meet challenges head on and make space for inclusive activities such as yoga groups, cooking classes and clubs for the elderly. These ambitions are also driving an exciting plan to create a larger, more flexibly designed Mandir, capable of meeting the needs of an expanding congregation and supporting other local partners. “After completing a successful feasibility study, we knew the Mandir community had the capacity to raise as much as £2 million towards the total build costs,” adds Andrew. “We also felt that because of the project’s unusual momentum, it made sense to encourage community giving first. Usually with a capital campaign, it’s important to secure major gifts during the quiet phase of the fundraising, but in this case, we could see the potential for a greater number of smaller donations inspiring investment at a much higher level.”

Three months into the campaign, the Mandir community has already raised over £1 million towards its £3 million goal and the fundraising committee has its sights on several major gift approaches. “They are a solid team with very strong leadership, and they deserve to win this campaign. I’m very much looking forward to celebrating half a century of serving the local community, in a wonderful new Mandir that welcomes people of all faiths and none.”