A community centre has been given the kitchen makeover it needed so that local groups can make full use of its facilities.
The Jubilee Hall, in West Rainton, County Durham, was in desperate need of improvements to its kitchen after failing a food hygiene inspection in 2020.
Thankfully, housing association believe housing and its plumbing and heating contractor Buston & Maughan came to the rescue.
Caroline High, Procurement Manager at believe housing, explains: “Buston & Maughan have worked for us for about six years, and we know they are always keen to help the community when they can.
“When our Neighbourhood Team learnt of the hall’s situation, we were able to put the two in touch and are thrilled with the outcome.”
Buston & Maughan updated the hall’s kitchen facilities for free, with new tiles, taps and a boiler so it has a safe and reliable supply of hot water.
Michael Buston, a director at the Low Willington-based heating and plumbing specialist, said: “When we heard about the hall’s kitchen, we knew we wanted to help and had all the trades to do the job.
“We’re a successful business so it means the world to us to be able to give back and help people and communities out when we can.
“I really like this sort of work; I know how valuable community halls are to the people who live nearby, and I hope this makes a difference in the West Rainton area.”
Janet Tayler, treasurer and secretary of West Rainton and Leamside Community Association, which manages the Jubilee Hall, said the work has helped both the volunteers who run the centre and the groups that use it.
She said: “When we had to stop preparing food onsite and holding a lunch club for mostly older people who live on their own, it was a real worry, especially as we were recovering from Covid.
“Running the hall is hard work but believe housing and Buston & Maughan were brilliant, what they’ve done has taken a big stress away and made the hall much more user-friendly.
“We now have alternative arrangements for catering, which is working well, and don’t need a food hygiene certificate.
“The hall is very busy these days, with a wide range of users from Brownies and a youth club to exercise classes and dementia-friendly groups, all of which are easier knowing they can serve refreshments in a kitchen which is fit for purpose.”
Caroline added: “It is important to us that we work with local businesses who share our values of doing the right thing, and will go the extra mile to deliver social value projects like this to support the people in our homes and the communities we work in.”
To find out what’s on visit the Facebook page for Jubilee Hall, West Rainton.
believe housing has been recognised as one of the best places to work in the UK.
It was named a ‘3 Star, world-class to work for’ employer by Best Companies and has risen up three league tables.
believe housing has teamed up with North East councils and housing providers to fight social housing fraud, which is depriving families and vulnerable people of the homes they need.
We have completed a £5million project to make 1,100 homes warmer, greener, and cheaper to run … and a second, even bigger scheme is about to get underway.
Five people with a range of life skills and experiences have started an exciting new development programme with believe housing, which could turn them into board members of the future.
