By Lizzy Massey lmassey@thekmgroup.co.uk
Knockhall Community Centre |
The Greenhithe Community Centre in
Alexander Road was draughty and cold, the toilets and kitchen were not
fit for purpose and parking was a problem.
Cue Angie Ward, who began volunteering as
the centre’s secretary in 2010 after illness forced her to give up her
job as a secretary and payroll manager.
The 55-year-old convinced her husband Eddie to volunteer as the booking clerk, and he took over as chairman in 2011.
Straight away the couple, of Hasted Close, Greenhithe, began to turn the centre around.
Eddie, 76, said: “I hadn’t appreciated
how much local charities struggle to get volunteers. I was shocked to
see the state of the facilities.
“It has been a challenge but we now have a community centre to be proud of.”
The couple accumulated grants from Dartford council and Kent County Council totalling £32,000.
The centre now has double glazing as well as a new overflow car park, toilets, kitchen and energy efficient lighting.
It was reopened in all its glory on
Saturday and Angie and Eddie were presented with Dartfordian Award – the
borough’s highest accolade – at the same time. Angie said: “I have gained so much from
the experience, from the challenge of learning how to fill in grant
applications to the joy of seeing the transformation of the centre.
“These improvements have only been made possible by the support of our fellow trustees and local councillors.”
They were the first Dartfordian Awards presented this year.
Dartford council leader Jeremy Kite (Con)
and the town’s mayor Cllr Avtar Sandhu and Mayor of Swanscombe and
Greenhithe Cllr Susan Butterfill all gathered for the ribbon cutting.
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