A wellbeing and heritage centre in Ipswich has been nominated for a prestigious award – and needs your help to secure the prize of further funding.

Ipswich Star: The centre features rooms dedicated for counselling and therapy. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWNThe centre features rooms dedicated for counselling and therapy. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

Quay Place, which featured the former St Mary’s at the Quay Church being converted into a community wellbeing space, is up for a National Lottery Award in the Best Heritage Project category.

The venue fended off stiff competition from more than 1,300 organisations – a record number of entries in the category – to get to the public voting stage, and is now up against six other projects.

The awards aim to celebrate projects funded by the National Lottery, and winners will gain a further grant prize.

Quay Place manager Ginny Idehen said: “We are grateful to have made it to the public vote in the National Lottery Awards 2017.

Ipswich Star: Guests will also be given a tour of Quay Place. Picture: ARCHANTGuests will also be given a tour of Quay Place. Picture: ARCHANT (Image: Archant)

“Thanks to National Lottery funding, Quay Place has re-established an intrinsic link between the building and its community, whilst providing a future for an important heritage asset that would otherwise be lost forever. We hope that the Ipswich community and anyone who has enjoyed Quay Place votes for us in the National Lottery Awards.”

Quay Place needs the public to vote online as Best Heritage Project, which if successful will allow the centre to win a £5,000 prize to be spent on the project, a trophy and a feature in the televised awards ceremony.

Ipswich Star: Quay Place part-way through its renovation. Picture: RACHEL BARRETTQuay Place part-way through its renovation. Picture: RACHEL BARRETT (Image: Archant)

Quay Place opened in October 2016 after a decade of restoration following a period of 70 years of closure as a church.

The multi-million pound revamp on the church, owned by the Churches Conservation Trust and run in partnership with Suffolk Mind, was partly funded thanks to £3.4million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and now acts as a community wellness space featuring classes, conferences, events, therapies and massage and a space for people to enjoy some quiet.

Ipswich Star: Quay Place manager Ginny Idehen said the revamped space now maintained a key link between the building and the community. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWNQuay Place manager Ginny Idehen said the revamped space now maintained a key link between the building and the community. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

Jackie O’Sullivan from the awards said: “The National Lottery Awards celebrate the talent and dedication of the amazing staff and volunteers who run these incredible National Lottery funded projects for the benefit of their communities.

“Quay Place has worked very hard to become a finalist and they now need your support. So get voting!”

Ipswich Star: Quay Place, formerly St Mary at the Quay opened again in october 2016. Picture: SIMON PARKERQuay Place, formerly St Mary at the Quay opened again in october 2016. Picture: SIMON PARKER

To vote for Quay Place, visit the website here or call 0844 836 9702.

Voting is open now and closes midnight on July 27.