Woodham Community Centre which will be 28 years old in March 2014 held an Open Day on Saturday to celebrate the completion of major refurbishments that has seen the building transformed over the last 6 years.
Improvements include wooden dance floor, new kitchen, refit meeting room, replacing all doors and windows,new boiler, ventilation system, solar panels, new toilets, cupboards, computers and projectors. The latest work was to renew the foyer kitchen office and toilet flooring, fire doors, and refit the computer facilities.
Improvements to the value of over £100,000 have been carried out, with the centre users raising £43,000. We have had great support to raise the balance from County Councillor Joan Gray, former Councillor Paul Gittins, and Durham County Council.
Special thanks for their support advice and help go to the Great Aycliffe and Middridge Area Action Partnership Team of Brian Riley, Adam White, and Paula Stockport. The Gamp team have provided not only to us but many other groups and organisations in the area ways to raise funding and develop partnerships that benefit our communities. A final thanks to Durham County funding support team based at Consett who do all the donkey work of processing funding and making funds available.
The improvements have made a great difference and the Community Centre helps bring people together. Many new courses will be starting soon including Digital photography, Family History and computers for the terrified.
We are starting to take new bookings and have facilities and times available at very sensible hire rates. I would invite clubs, organisation and individuals to contact me to arrange a visit to see our new facilities.
David Sutton-Lloyd
Treasurer
Chairman Joan Gray with Treasurer Davis Sutton’Lloyd
