Jubilee Fields Community Centre, located in Shildon, has been awarded £93,000 by The National Lottery Fund to continue their essential work within the community.
The funding, split over three years, will enable staff to offer extended opening hours providing essential space for community activities.
The beloved community centre supports over 400 residents every week to access everything from parent and toddler sessions, breakfast and coffee mornings, community bingo, children's multisports, and various men's and women's health groups. With this funding, they'll be setting their sights on providing a space for programmes and classes to increase access to vital online services by delivering digital inclusion skills.
As part of a multi stakeholder group we work in partnership with the centre to improve the opportunities available for the wider community, and recently supported them to access funding to refurbish the centre to run more efficiently, with the addition of solar panels, batteries, and LED lighting.
Andy Coulthard, Community Regeneration Manager said: "I am so pleased for the staff and trustees who have put an incredible amount of time and effort into the centre over the last couple of years. The Lottery bid is the cherry on the cake as it provides funding to open the centre for longer and enables more and more support to come onto the estate. We look forward to continuing our work with the centre moving forward".
Hannah Hanratty, Chairperson for the centre said: "This is amazing for the centre and the people who use it now and for those who haven't used it yet as we will be adding more to our programme which will bring in new users of all ages and abilities. As a young Chairperson for the centre, I want to thank the Lotteries Community Fund for their amazing grant and their confidence in us as a management and staff team. I am proud of what we have done in the last couple of years and our amazing and welcoming staff makes sure that once you come to the centre you will want to come back again and again".
Pictured: Left to right, Peter Garrod (Bishop Auckland and Shildon AAP – Co-ordinator), Andy Coulthard (Community Regeneration Manager, Livin), Tracey Bellas (Shildon Town Clerk), Cllr Samantha Townsend (Durham County Council), Julie O’Connor (Community Regeneration Adviser, Livin), Cllr Shirley Quinn (Durham County Councillor, Shildon Town Council Mayor and Jubilee Fields Community Centre Trustee), Jules Howe (Wellbeing for Life Co-ordinator), Craig Hampton (Durham Community Action Community Development Advisor), Holly Cowton and Jordan Bayles (Shildon Police PCSO’s).
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