Funding is positive boost for new community centre in Loughborough

Calls are being made for residents to get involved with a community centre being built in the heart of Loughborough.

Charnwood Borough Council has given a £20,000 grant towards Grange Park Community Centre and is urging residents to join the team of volunteers to support the project as it begins to take shape.  

The funding has been provided through the Council’s community facilities grant which assists with the renovation and improvement of community buildings.

The Grange Park Centre charity has also secured a £500,000 grant from the Big Lottery Reaching Communities Buildings scheme run by the National Lottery. Building work has started on the centre and it is due to open in the autumn.

Cllr Deborah Taylor, the Council’s lead member for communities said: “This project has been in development for a while, so I’m pleased to see that it’s finally underway.

“The Grange Park Centre will be a valuable hub for the community and I’m glad we’ve been able to support them with a £20,000 grant.

“The Council’s grant scheme helps individuals and projects in the community which benefit our residents. I’d encourage any projects which have a positive impact on our residents to have a look and see what funding may be available to them.”

Cllr Jonathan Morgan, leader of the Council said “I’m looking forward to seeing the Grange Park Centre being completed and used by local residents. The team behind the centre have put a tremendous amount of work into this and I’d like to congratulate them on their efforts.

“The centre will be a great addition to the Loughborough community and will offer residents a range of different activities and spaces to use.”

The facility will offer activities including fitness classes, activity clubs for young people and a parent and baby group. There will also be counselling and advice services, and a computer hub for people to use.

Paul Gadd, chair of trustees said “We are so grateful to Charnwood Borough Council for awarding the project a community facilities grant. It came at a key point for the project, before any other major funders had fully committed finances to the construction phase.

“In addition, their officers have been a vital source of advice and coaching whilst navigating funding applications and other areas of the project.”

Grange Park Centre charity is still raising funds through a campaign which enables people to ‘sponsor a brick’ and have their dedication displayed in the community centre on a plaque with other supporters. There’s a minimum sponsorship value of £25 per brick and people can sponsor as many bricks as they like.

To keep up to date with the progress of the community centre or to sponsor a brick visit www.grangeparkcentre.org.uk.