Watch as businesses and volunteers rally round to help breath new life into much needed community hub

Local businesses and volunteers have come together to provide thousands of pounds of resources and free labour to help resurrect a community centre which had run into disrepair after being closed two years ago.

Southwick Community Centre was once a thriving community hub providing clubs and groups for the village’s residents to enjoy, but had been left derelict for two years until the lease from Sunderland City Council was recently taken over by Active Families North East.

The community interest company (CIC) offers activities and sports for people of all ages, with the aim of improving physical and mental wellbeing, and bringing communities together. The new venue will also be home to a digitally interactive soft play facility for children to enjoy.

However, before offering their vital services to the local community, Active Families North East faced the massive task of clearing out the rundown community centre, cleaning, painting and decorating its interior, and repairing any damage to bring the building in line with health and safety and fire regulation requirements.

Last week, Active Families North East founders Kelly Brougham and Amy Swan put out an appeal through the Echo asking for trades people and volunteers to come forward and help bring the community hub back to life.

Today (August 5) those calls were answered as more than a dozen businesses and organisations turned up bright and early with resources and volunteers ready to work.

Kelly said: “The response from the local community has been overwhelming. The building was in a state of disrepair and in need of some TLC. We simply couldn’t have done this without the support of local businesses and organisations. Without their help, it would have been me and Amy having to try and do everything ourselves.

“We’ve also had members of the local community coming in this morning who used to come to the community centre when it was opened and want to help.”

Amy added: “This is a great example of a community coming together, taking responsibility for where they live and wanting to give something back.”

Arriving with a van full of 30 tins of paint worth around £1,500, along with brushes and rollers, was Leon Callander from Brewers Decorator Centres.

Leon said: “When we saw the opportunity to support a community space we jumped at the chance to help out. I’m a local lad and as a business we wanted to help. They should now have everything they need to paint all the walls and get the job done.”

Also offering labour and the use of tools and equipment was Sunderland’s largest social housing provider, Gentoo.

The company’s multi-maintenance operator Martin Wilkinson said: “We’ve been doing a lot of sealing around doors and windows, filling in gaps in walls so they’re ready for painting, taking down shelving, and fixing doors.

“Southwick is at the centre of the city and we are a big part of Sunderland and so were really keen to get involved. This is a fantastic community project and it’s great to see so many local businesses getting involved.”

Volunteers from the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) also helped to clean out the building’s interior.

Business advisor Helen Wardropper said: “It’s brilliant to see the community come together and you can already see a massive difference since this morning.”

Other businesses and organisations involved included Methven, Northumbria Water, Newcastle Building Society, Queensway Orthodontics, Slice Pizza, Sunderland City Council, Recovery College, Learning Curve Group, DIY & Building Products, and Wirquin.

And there to provide free food for the hungry workers was Greggs Southwick branch.

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Active Families North East will be hosting two further community support days on August 22 (7am-7pm) and August 23 (7am-3pm) where the main aim will be painting the main rooms, installing new doors, working on outdoor areas, and carrying out joinery repairs.

Kelly and Amy are particularly keen to hear for anyone who can support with providing and installing laminate flooring. Active Families North East are hopeful the regenerated community centre will be ready to open by mid September.