A celebration event was held at the Jubilee Church Life Centre in Grantham to thank stakeholders and donors who have helped to transform the former restaurant into a community space.
What was China 88 on the corner of London Road and St Catherine’s Road has been turned into a venue for community events.
The community space was officially opened by Mick McGrath from Big Lottery, Cheryl Raynor from WREN and Mayor and Mayoress of Grantham Ian and Sarah Stokes.
WREN and Big Lottery funded the creation of four rooms on the ground floor, which include toilets and a tea bar. These facilities will be used by members of the ‘Count Me In’ project which focusss on the inclusion of children with complex disabilities. Ethnic minorites will also benefit as the space will be used for English lessons, plus family activities and youth work.
Meanwhile, the county’s primary care trust, Lincolnshire County Council, South Kesteven District Council, Rotary Swimarathon and Jubilee Church members made a ‘Changing Places’ facility possible.
‘Changing Places’ was opened by the mayor and mayoress, joined by Councillor Adam Stokes, the PCT’s Phil Garner, Wendy Moore, Phil Jordan and representatives from the Cree Centre and Rotary club.
Pat Whittaker, senior leadership of the church, said: “This unique facility will enable profoundly disabled people to have dignified and appropriate toileting and changing provision, with all the necessary equipment, which is not available anywhere else in the centre of town.”