By Haverstoe Heroes bring community spirit
The Haverstoe Pavilion project has been ongoing for a number of years, however, today’s ‘soft’ opening was used as an opportunity to showcase the hard work and visions of the team since they started work on the building.
The plans are to successfully complete the Community Asset Transfer of the pavilion and to give the Pavilion a much-needed facelift with improvements to the cafe, WCs, disability access, community room and changing rooms.
Louise Alice, Haverstoe Hero, says:
“We first accessed the building in August and we’ve been working on it since”.
“It’s been volunteers and local businesses offering free stuff and services”.
“It’s maybe nearing the end of lockdown, maybe not, but we can do takeaway’s and we’ve got public toilets that are Covid safe”.
“People become really sedentary and depressed, it’s winter and it’s rubbish”.
“If people can come get a nice warm drink, it’ll make it so much better for people”.
Louise also says the Heroe’s will be looking to recruit more volunteers to join them at Haverstoe Pavilion once it’s up and running, Covid permitting.
“All of the stock has been bought by people who have done the wall of thanks and given us £100”.
“The microwave and other equipment was given from Trin”.
“It gives it more of a community ownership, it’s really community built”.
Volunteers like Alan (left) have been helping renovate the building since August.
Alan, among others, has been hard at work on the project painting alongside other jobs to get it finished and ready for opening.
He popped down today to show support and see the hard work in action at today’s ‘soft’ opening.
The Pavilion will be open Wednesday – Sunday, 9:30am – 3:30pm for people to pop in and get a warm drink and have a chat with the volunteers in a Covid safe environment.
Photo credit: Maddy McDonald.
