Published: 18 August 2021
Relaunch of a Gateshead community centre will reunite local people and create new opportunities post lockdown.
After 18 months of closure during the height of the pandemic, Teams Life Centre received a grant from Benefact Trust’s Hope Beyond programme to provide local residents of the Teams Life Centre with a rejuvenated hub, with new games and IT equipment and a programme of events for all the family.
The relaunch programme which includes new fire escape shutters, redecoration, leisure equipment and IT facilities will mean that the 400 people who use the centre regularly will be able to meet again after a long period of closure in a safe and pleasant environment, but will also encourage other local people to enjoy the benefits of the centre’s many activities.
Teams Life Centre, which is run by Dunston Family Church, plans to relaunch on Saturday 18th September 2021 with a family friendly event to showcase the changes in the centre but also to introduce new projects working with young people and children, BAME families and offering training opportunities to encourage young people into full time work. The £14,700 grant will provide a springboard for the charity’s future plans, which it believes will bring transformation to the local community.
Margaret Carlin, a Trustee of the charity and Lead Project Manager, said: “We are so grateful to Benefact Trust for their generous donation. It will mean that we can give the local people of Teams a place to be proud of, with facilities and projects that will mean a better quality of life and increased wellbeing in the future.”
Andrew Bass, Grants Officer for Benefact Trust, said: “Covid-19 has been an extremely challenging time for individuals and communities, exacerbating feelings of isolation and loneliness and increasing mental health issues.
“We’re delighted that our Hope Beyond funding can help Teams Life Centre to address community need and offer local people a space to have fun and re-engage with each other, whilst also creating new opportunities for young people and vulnerable groups to thrive. It’s exciting that the relaunch is just around the corner, we can’t wait to see the positive impact of this wonderful community facility.”
