The conferences
that give back As Leicester rebuilds its economy after the lockdowns, there are things that all of us in the locality can (and are) doing to boost it and help it to restore. Emily Miller visits St Martins House Conference Centre & Lodge to see just how a conference at the venue can help the local community
A
s an events and conferencing venue in the heart of Leicester’s city centre, St Martins House suffered the effects of lockdown greatly. Like all in the hospitality sector, the lockdown had a very immediate and almost devastating effect on the organisation as a whole. It is a not-for-profit organisation, so the funds created by St Martins House as a business are ploughed straight back into the Diocese of Leicester. Much of the work that they do within the Leicester community has suffered too. Leicester’s diocese is a family of more than 18,000 Christians who worship in church buildings, houses, community spaces and schools. With over 320 churches, 234 parishes, almost 100 schools and academy trusts, and a rapidly growing number of fresh expressions of church, taking in villages, market towns and the city of Leicester, they describe themselves as a rural diocese with urban heartlands. The diocese does extensive charitable work within the local community, including, expending a great deal of effort to combat the growing homelessness in the city, working with One Roof Leicester and Leicester Homelessness Charter. This work was, of course, vital during the pandemic and and will continue to be so, moving forward. Nigel Jobson, Business Manager at St Martins House Conference Centre and Lodge, said: “Community has always been a huge part of the work at the diocese. Our communities need to come together to support each other in the aftermath of Covid, whether through financial challenges or relationship and mental health effects, the 56 | NICHE
Community has always been a huge part of the work at the diocese. Our communities need to come together to support each other work will become more prevalent and essential than ever before.” St Martins House offers the opportunity to give back to the local community. As well as helping to support churches in the city, and towns and villages across the county, hosting a large conference or small meeting here aids the Diocese of Leicester in continuing the charitable work they carry out. With an elegant mix of period features and contemporary styling, St Martins House provides four spaces which are all Covid safe and have been accredited with Visit England’s ‘We’re Good to Go’, confirming that they are taking all possible measures to keep everyone safe. “Now, though, as Leicester is starting to return to a new normal, we are seeing a growing demand for our conferencing facilities and meeting rooms,” adds Nigel. “The requests for video conferencing are now declining, although, of course it was a much needed tool whilst the pandemic meant business was being run from homes. But