Villagers urged to make more use of Randolph Community centre in Evenwood

TRUSTEES of a newly created community centre are calling on more village residents and groups to use it.

In April 2016, Evenwood and Barony Parish Council established the Randolph Community Centre Foundation Trust to manage the Randolph Community Centre.

The future of the centre had been uncertain after the county council announced it would stop running Sure Start from the premises. The trust is now hoping to encourage more people to benefit from the facilities on offer.

Trustee Cllr Anne Lyons said: “The centre is well used and hopefully that will grow next year.

“We have got the little ones and we have got the older people using it. We need that middle ground of 20 to 40-year-olds. If anyone has a group that needs a hall, a kitchen or a lounge to use, they should get in touch.

“That was the whole point of us taking over. It we hadn’t done that, this building would have been sold and boarded up. We need to tell people it is open for use.”

As well as receiving income from a parish council grant, rents and hire charges, the centre has been awarded £20,000 from the Ballinger Trust.

This enables the centre to host a wider range of services and activities.

The centre houses a nursery, cafe and the parish council office. It is also a meeting point for a number of groups including Little Learners, a lunch club, sewing group, history group, ramblers, kickboxing, multi-sports and Evenwood and Ramshaw Community Association.

Courses on first aid and healthy eating have also been held at the centre. There are also plans to set up a film club.

Cllr Lyons said: “When we took over we were novices and we are still learning. We are now heading towards the end of our second year and we have a hall that is fit for purpose. We have got over the hiccups and know where we are going.”

The aim of the centre is to provide a safe and warm meeting point for people of the village to socialise. The aim is also to improve people’s health and wellbeing as well as tackle social isolation and bridge the gap between the young and old.

Trustee Cllr Barbara Nicholson said: “Next year we have lots planned. The centre is going to focus heavily on social isolation. We are hoping to get more people in on a night and provide transport for them.”

Volunteers are also being sought to lend a hand at the centre, which is open Monday to Friday.

Cllr Lyons said: “We would like to find a number of volunteers who are willing to help on different days with things that are going on.”

Manager of the centre Martin Clark added: “The centre is developing along the lines of our five-year business plan.

“It is a lot harder work than anticipated but the rewards are worth it as we look to develop things long term.”

For more information call 01388 835588.