Derbyshire community project is one in a million

Community groups in a Derbyshire village are celebrating the re-launch of a much-loved 50-year-old centre following a £22,000 revamp donated by a local housing partnership.

The Evergreen Community Centre in Loscoe has undergone complete refurbishment thanks to Amber Valley Housing and Connaught Partnerships Ltd ‘One in a million’ fund. The centre has received a new kitchen and toilet facilities, has been fully redecorated and also benefits from new roofing, doors and paving to the outside.

The project comes as a result of a partnership between Connaught and Amber Valley Housing which is seeing money given over to community projects. For every million pounds Amber Valley Housing spends with Connaught on a project to improve its tenants’ homes, Connaught will give back one per cent of the value to benefit the community.

The Loscoe centre, which is regularly used by groups including the Women’s Institute, Gatepost Theatre and Craig Sanders Drama Club, as well as for bingo and tea dance events, is the first project to benefit.

Paul Parkinson, executive director of Amber Valley Housing, said: “The Evergreen centre is already well used but we hope that following the refurbishment it can become a valuable community resource for many more groups.

“Our partnership with Connaught is helping to complete major home improvements to affordable housing across the borough, and is now providing further benefits to local neighbourhoods.

“We look forward to completing more projects as funds become available.”

The new look centre was given a special launch at an event attended by local groups, as well the organisations involved in the revamp, on Thursday, February 11.

David Hinchley, operations manager at Connaught Partnership, said: “We are keen to ensure that our work has the widest possible benefits. Communities need decent facilities as well as good quality homes in order to thrive and our partnership with Amber Valley Housing is helping to meet these needs.

“The work at the Evergreen centre has safeguarded it for future use for many more years to come.”

Margret Allen, treasurer of the Women’s Institute which uses the centre monthly, said: “The new look community centre will create a much more appealing place for the public. The WI is always looking for new interested members to join, especially the younger community, and I hope the new look will do just that. The new facilities will also make it easier and more updated for the guest speakers and drama groups that help support the WI too."