MP Sam Rushworth, centre, with Persimmon Homes representative along with four members of the Community Centre committee.
LOCAL MP, Sam Rushworth, visited Crook Community Centre on Friday (May 1st) to present a cheque to the hardworking committee who saved the building for the people of the town.
The Centre, built as a church hall, was an absolute hive of activity when the Gazette popped in before the arrival of the MP. Workers from Homegroup Housing Association’s Community Team were very busy painting the interior of the café area and toilets while outside more were working in the garden. Kelly, the Housing Manager who was also wielding a paintbrush, explained that it was their Volunteer Day. The Homegroup covers a wide area across the north-east from the East Coast of Sunderland down to Yorkshire and it was by pure chance they were there for the occasion.
Homegroup workers painting the kitchen area.
Representatives from Persimmon Homes, which is building scores of houses in Crook currently and for the foreseeable future in West Road and Mown Meadows, attended too and heard from Treasurer of the Community Centre Association Committee, Margaret Knipe, how the hardworking volunteers managed to save the building, which was built at the turn of the last century by the Church of England. It was used at one point as the home of the Church Lads’ and Church Girls’ Brigade. It became a Community building in 1981 after the church gave it up but granted a 21 year lease and then renewed that again.
Home Group workers in the garden
In 2023, it wasn’t able to renew the lease a third time and so began an earnest campaign to save the building for the people of Crook and surrounding area. The local County Councillors, the Local Authority – Durham County Council – and local people backed the campaign until the steering group managed to buy it.
“There was a lot of community support,” said Margaret who serves on the small committee of six local people: Keith Stephenson, Chairman, Margaret Peacock, Christine Holloway, Michael Robinson and Catherine Allinson.
Centre committee members show Sam Rushworth MP around the hall.
The building now caters for all activities for all age groups – and animals – with a Little Movers group for young children and parents, line-dancing, weekly markets, dog training, Bingo Wednesdays, which is popular with pensioners and so much more, utilising the kitchen, the large hall that can cater for large parties, live acts etc and also a training room, which is well equipped. The small is seeking more volunteers to join them, manage all of this themselves.
“It is very important that we keep this facility for the people of the town,” added Margaret Knipe.
The donation of £3000 from Persimmon Homes came from the company’s Community Champion Scheme and not through Section 108 monies. The committee will be using some of the moneyprimarily to have the guttering on the roof mended.
“We have lots of other things that need doing,” said Committee member, Margaret Peacock. “But we have to prioritise. We have updated the building both inside and outside. It is a good, solid building but it needs constant maintenance. The roof is a priority at present.”
Michael Robinson, Committee member, is the regular bingo caller and brings along his two dogs, who are favourites of the people who attend all classes and events. Michael is a familiar face who brings his own expertise to the workings of the building and all it offers. It is an excellent team with many and diverse talents and expertise that runs the building very efficiently.
Sam Rushworth MP, who regularly holds surgeries in the smaller meeting room, was given a guided tour of the whole building inside and out by committee members before he officially presented the cheque.
He said, “This money is for the people of Crook with these hard-working volunteers who have taken the risks, fought to save and maintain it. It is people like these who make communities, they love the area and the people they live among.
“THEY are the unsung heroes.”
“Persimmon Homes are bringing the benefit of affordable housing to the town and helping organisations such as this through their Community Champion Scheme.”
