A north London church is planning a £500,000 renovation of its crypt to improve its outreach to the local community space.

St Peter De Beauvoir Town church in Hackney has launched a fundraising in a bid to raise at least £50,000 from within the local community.

The campaign has attracted the support of a local group of young people going by the name of the ‘De Beauvoir Underground’, who have committed themselves to a 20-month campaign to raise funds for the new facility.

The crypt is already used to sleep 15 rough sleepers and provide them with hot food in the winter months. It is also the base for around 40 local organisations, including artistic and theatre groups and a club for the over sixties.

Although the space is usable, it is badly lit and inaccessible to disabled people. The church wants to expand the number of services being offered in the crypt by building a new cafeteria space that can be used for cookery and healthy eating classes.

Phase one of the building project is due to start in August and will see the crypt area made accessible for disabled people, people with young children and the elderly. A brand new heating system will also be installed.

The church has already managed to raise £210,000 from funding bodies and is now hoping to raise at least £50,000 from people living in Hackney.

Church vicar the Rev Julia Porter said: “We plan to turn our church into a centre for social interaction, creativity, cultural expression and community support.

“We have been touched by the involvement from the local community so far and hope that as many people as possible are able to share in the success of the project.”