A faith-based organisation that wants to develop a south Bristol church into a centre for the community has entered the Post's Building Healthy Communities competition.

Faithspace was set up in September to help improve the physical, social and spiritual health of people in Southville.

The organisation is based in Southville Methodist Church in Stackpool Road, and is working to open the church hall to the community.

Activities held there are split between faith organisations and community groups, and include ballroom and break-dance, music lessons, Western Opera Society and choirs.

There are also events for retired people, parents and toddlers and green groups to raise awareness about environmental issues and give people green "skills".

Sarah James, an outreach and development worker for South Bristol Methodist Church, helps run Faithspace.

Mrs James, 44, of Salisbury Road, St Anne's, said: "The character of the local area is very arty, so we are trying to pick up on those things and form partnerships in the community to help provide an outlet for that.

"We are also forging links with Southville Primary School to give them room for PE lessons and performance events."

Mrs James has entered Faithspace into the Building Healthy Communities competition to give the church hall a revamp.

She said: "The building was built 120 years ago.

"We have beautiful sprung floors but the finish has worn out from all the dance classes. It needs sanding back and re-doing. The main hall also has very high ceilings, and we could do with them painting.

"We have had our kitchen refurbished so we can develop ideas for sharing food skills and healthy eating, but need someone to help us lay the floor."

The Post's Building Healthy Communities competition, sponsored by Leadbitter, gives community groups and schools the chance to win a share of £16,000 for improvements.

There are three prizes for the competition, of a day's worth of work and materials to the value of £5,000, £2,000 and £1,000.

Leadbitter regional director Rob Bradley said: "Faithspace has only been going for nine months, but in that short time has been able to offer a huge variety of activities to the people of south Bristol."

The competition is being run in two stages. The first, which runs until August, will be for everyone from community groups to sports clubs and fitness groups, while the second, running in January next year, will be for schools of all ages.

Entry into the first part is now closed. A shortlist will be drawn up and published on June 16, and prizes will be awarded on the basis of the number of tokens collected and returned to the Post by July 10. The results will be announced on July 17.