Pride grant helps centre revamp

A £2,370 grant from the District of Easington Council campaign has been used to transform the pedestrian entrance to Wheatley Hill Community Centre.

The money has also been used to landscape a section of the centre’s community garden and extend its children’s play.

Michelle Dixon, the centre’s operations and funding manager, said: “The improvements, and in particular the landscaping, have made a massive difference to the appearance of the centre. People have already been commenting on how smart it looks now.

“Our centre is the only large community building in the area and our hope is that by improving its physical appearance we can contribute to the wider regeneration of the district and create a further sense of pride in the local area.”

The community garden is a new addition to the Stephens Terrace centre, but a lack of cash meant the area around the entrance to the building remained unkempt.

Some of the Pride in Easington cash has been used to dig out the areas, install turf and create two planted rockery areas. Handrails have also been added to improve access to the building.

The improvements were made following suggestions from visitors to the centre, and the finished area will now be tended and maintained by volunteers.

The remainder of the money has been spent on extending the children’s playground by repositioning the existing iron fencing.

“The play park was already popular and well used but we wanted to move the fence because we had been offered a donation some extra equipment and needed more space,” Michelle added.

The Pride in Easington Community Grant scheme supports groups, projects and organisations that reflect the aims of the Pride campaign – to create a cleaner, greener and safer district.

So far, more than £40,000 has been handed out to good causes through the initiative.