Lottery Cash Will Boost Plans For Village Hall

Villagers can go ahead with their plans to renovate a community meeting point thanks to Lottery cash.

The Village Centre, in West Auckland, has been used as a meeting place for people of all ages since it was launched as a pilot scheme five years ago.

But it has long since needed a revamp and volunteers from the West Auckland Community Partnership have been busy trying to secure funding to modernise it.

Now they can go ahead with their plans after being awarded a Lottery grant for £20,000.

John Niven, from the partnership, said that now the grant had been received it will be added to other funding and the work can start soon.

He said: "It is used a couple of nights a week as a youth drop-in and we also have a book exchange which people use, but it has never really been a comfortable place.

"We want to bring it up to standard so that we can have a kitchen for refreshments, decent toilets and a chance to make it more accessible.

"We have been trying for some time to get funding together and this grant means we can now go ahead."

There are also plans to install Internet access points and organise homework and holiday clubs.

It is hoped that it will be a place where young and old can come together and be a venue for a host of community activities.

Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman has been so impressed by the work of the partnership that she has pledged her support as its patron.

She said: "Getting this lottery grant is tremendous news for West Auckland. It will enable facilities to be put in place that will be of benefit to the community."

Mr Niven said that the new look centre could be up and running by Christmas, but appealed for more volunteers to help realise the partnership's dreams.

He said: "We do need more volunteers so that we can open the centre more often. We would love to hear from anyone who can help."

Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to contact Mr Niven on (01388) 832587.