Renovation works begin at the Marske Centre

New flooring is being installed at the Marske Centre following the award of a significant grant from the RWE Sofia Offshore Wind Farm’s Construction Fund.

The Marske Centre, a registered charity, has been awarded a grant from RWE Sofia Offshore Wind Farm’s Construction Fund to replace the flooring of the community centre.

The centre, run by a small but dedicated group of volunteers since 1983, serves as an essential social hub for the community of Marske. The flooring hadn’t been replaced since the 1970s and was long overdue. The charity has been awarded a £10,000 grant from Sofia’s construction fund, and work has now begun on installing new flooring, which will last for many for years to come.

The centre provides facilities for a wide range of community-based activities, from pop-in coffee sessions, country dancing classes to playgroups, as well as live entertainment on Saturday nights.

Organisations, charities and individuals hire rooms for various activities to bring enjoyment, entertainment and recreation to the local community and the surrounding area.

Elaine Lowe, company secretary of The Marske Centre Ltd said: “The donation from RWE means we can install a new clubroom floor. That room is used by many organisations, from ballet to parties, but the old floor was becoming slippy and we were becoming concerned about safety. Not only will the new floor look good, but it’s also safe.”

Sofia’s grant of £10,000 will enhance the use of the centre and improve the experience of each user group that uses the clubroom. The new flooring means that The Marske Centre will be fit for purpose and provide new opportunities for the community.”

Ian Lowe, chairman, added: “It’s the most used room in the building, and the new floor will give the whole place a lift. We’re going to get a lot of good feedback, I know we are. We hope it will attract even more people into the centre.”

The Sofia Construction Community Fund gives financial support to groups that work to address key community issues such as social isolation or the effects of poverty.

Commenting on the community fund, Matthew Swanwick, Project Director for the Sofia Offshore Wind Farm, said: “The wide and diverse range of projects funded through our wind farms make a real difference to communities. The volunteers who run the Marske Centre have really won us over with their dedication and commitment to providing a major resource for the whole community. We are delighted to be able to support their efforts. The new flooring will hopefully make a lasting difference well into the future."

The works are expected to complete by mid-August, with groups and classes returning to the clubroom in September.

August 2024