Volunteers of all ages transform community centre... in record time!

Between 01 April 2008 and 01 April 2008, in Truro

On Wednesday 2nd April, members of the local community pulled on overalls and picked up paintbrushes and joined CSV Action Desk and Norwich City Council in giving the Jubilee community centre a facelift.

The CSV Action Desk – a partnership between volunteer and training organisation CSV (community services volunteers) and BBC Radio Norfolk – joined forces with volunteers who manage the centre and the council and challenged young people aged between 16 and 25 years to help redecorate the main hall of the Lakenham community centre.

Emma Penfold, community development officer for Norwich City Council said: “We wanted to encourage young people to help put the jazz into Jubilee. It’s a way of making young people feel that they have a valuable place in their local community and can do something, even small things, which can make a difference to a wide range of people for many years to come.”

Agent4Change Janette Cook said: “We had a really fabulous day and our volunteers worked very hard and their enthusiasm has made it a pleasure to do.

“We’ve been really lucky in Norwich so far, with more than 150 young people taking part in the various volunteering opportunities that we’ve created [for Agents4Change] over the past nine months.”

With 20 volunteers of all ages, the youngest ten-year-old Thomas and the most senior 79-year-old Eileen working alongside students from Notre Dame sixth form college and the UEA, it really was a community event. Omer, a student from Pakistan who is studying for his masters at the UEA said: “I had a really good day making new friends even learning a new skill”.

Ten year-old Thomas said: “It was really fun and good to meet new people, even someone from the other side of the world.” Every volunteer got a delicious free Caribbean lunch freshly cooked by Jan's Roti – a new local business in Lakenham – and an endless supply of drinks and biscuits. One lucky person also won £20 in CD vouchers in a free prize draw.

The centre is currently used by a variety of people of all ages and a diverse range of groups, such as Jubilee Jellies Playgroup and the Funky Feet Dance group. The centre also offers computer classes, dog training, and even gardening tips courtesy of the Dahlia Society. For further information on the Jubilee Community Centre call them on 01603 616957.

Posted on 02 July 2008 20:21:33 by Samantha Butcher