County Durham community thanks funders who helped transform lifeline venue
A community group has thanked the supporters who helped save a rundown church and transform it into a bustling County Durham venue.
Over the past year, The Welcome Centre in Easington Colliery has become a lifeline to many people in the area..
It hosts a range of activities including youth and lunch clubs, a community garden, pantry and laundry, and support services such as digital skills and employability workshops.
believe housing staff volunteer to clear welcome centre garden (Image: Supplied)
Formerly Easington Colliery Methodist Church, it also remains a place of regular worship, with the Methodist churches of Easington, Horden, Blackhall, and Peterlee holding services in rotation.
The comfortable, bustling venue is a far cry from the building it was in 2022 when it was cold and damp and faced closure due to high maintenance costs and a dwindling church congregation.
Community benefit society, Focus Easington, was established to lease and renovate the church so it could serve the whole community.
Welcome Centre interior before work (Image: Supplied)
One year after opening to the public, volunteers held a thank you event for the funders and supporters who helped them realise their dream.
Angela Surtees, a founder member of Focus Easington, said: "This was always a place of welcome and worship; we needed to retain that while also providing a community facility for everyone in need of support.
"Easington is a community with many needs, and our mission was that no one would have to travel to get help because The Welcome Centre could be the place to turn to.
Rev Bev Hollings at The Welcome Centre, which remains a place of worship ( Easington Colliery Methodist Church ) (Image: Supplied)
"So much time, support, and funding has gone into creating this special place, for people of all ages to enjoy and find the support they need.
"None of this would have been possible without the many volunteers, supporters, local businesses, and social value contributors who got involved and gave their time and money when they found out what we wanted to do.
"As a community, it is very much appreciated."
BBC Look North covered the transformation of The Welcome Centre - here interviewing Faye Gordon, of believe housing_ (Image: Supplied)
Reverend Bev Hollings said: "It is a delight to see the building open every day of the week.
"It is a real hub for the community, whilst remaining a place of worship available for weddings and funerals.
"We recognised that we could not do everything we wanted, as a church alone, and the incredible effort and vision that has gone into this place really fulfils our ambition to serve the community."
Key supporters include the housing association believe housing, which awarded £35,000 towards the building's renovation and had staff volunteer their time to work on the project.
Its contractor, RE:GEN Group, donated £10,000 for the garden and replaced the old kitchen.
Durham County Council facilitated the connection to BAM Nuttall, which transformed the outdoor space for free as part of its A19 civil engineering contract with the council, delivering social value.
Funding was secured from Durham County Council's Towns and Villages programme and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and local charity East Durham Trust provided support and advice along the way.
Rachel Edmunds, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at believe housing, said: "From the earliest discussions, we were completely blown away by the vision for the future and what this building could deliver.
"We're really proud to have helped this project, which is changing people's lives, making a positive impact on the area, and bringing together activities, people, the church, and support services to cement it at the heart of this community."
Rachel McMullen, Social Value Coordinator at RE:GEN Group, said: "We see firsthand how important these organisations are to communities like Easington.
"It is amazing to see the building so full of people, and we're proud to have been part of that journey."
For information on what's on or to volunteer at The Welcome Centre, follow the Facebook page Focus Easington - The Welcome Centre or email focus.easington@yahoo.com.
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