£337,000 grant to help ‘heart of community’

The grant, funded by the Office of the Third Sector (Cabinet Office), and delivered by The Big Lottery Fund, has been agreed in principle for the Pelton Fell Community Centre, in Chester-le- Street.

Chester-le-Street District Council and the Pelton Fell Community Group are working together on a refurbishment project to broaden the centre's facilities and programmes for residents, as well as repairing certain parts of the building.

Community group member and former chairwoman Betty Hall said: "We are delighted. We have been trying to achieve this for a long time. The council got involved and was the leader in this bid.

"The community centre is at the heart of the community and provides a vital service.

"What we are hoping to do is to make the community centre a self-sustaining enterprise."

She added: "At the moment, there is only one room, so we are limited in what we can accommodate.

"The grant will enable the centre to build additional activity rooms, and also to create more space for community group meetings."

The centre is mainly open during weekdays, offering various services to the community, such as a Sure Start baby clinic, skills for life training, and art in the community projects. It also hosts a weekly church service.

Once refurbished, the centre could also provide facilities for wedding receptions and conferences.

The partnership between the council and the Office of the Third Sector is part of a longterm strategy to regenerate the village of Pelton Fell, which has had improvements over the past few years.

Jorge Lulic, the council's community development manager, said: "I am over the moon about this grant as it will enable the planned refurbishment to go ahead.

"Ultimately, the additions to the centre will greatly benefit the people in Pelton Fell. This is yet another example of the council's work to assist local people to make their aspirations a reality."