A NEW kitchen and doors are to be installed at a village welfare hall after volunteers were awarded funding.

Easington Lane Community Access Point Welfare Hall has been awarded a £36,000 grant from Biffa Award.

All windows and doors in the hall, which was opened in 1958, will be replaced and an industrial standard commercial kitchen will also be installed.

The work means the welfare hall will be draught-proof, more environmentally friendly and have lower energy costs.

Centre co-ordinator Shaun Newton said:“The refurbished Welfare Hall will revolutionise the lives of so many residents within our community.

“No longer will our residents have to leave the village for many of the activities and events that we will be able to host once we see the new kitchen installed.

“The new windows and doors will create a welcoming impression combined with the warm environment of the hall will give residents no excuse of saying they are coming into a cold, draughty and unappealing hall”.

Rita Grey, treasurer of the Ladies’ Club, added:“The newly-refurbished hall and kitchen will create amazing opportunities for the variety of activities and events that we will be able to offer, which we hope will make the Ladies Club more appealing and therefore attract new members”.

She added: “We are really looking forward to the new hall”.

Gillian French, Biffa Award Head of Grants, said: “This fantastic building provides an essential service to the community of Easington Lane, and improvements to the facilities will make it a much more welcoming environment.

“Biffa Award are proud that the Landfill Communities fund has enabled us to support this project and transform the welfare hall”.