Work Begins On New Community Hub In Thurnby

Work has begun to create a new community hub and café in Thurnby.

The disused Pavilion in the village’s Manor Park will be transformed, after St Luke’s Church received grants totalling £400,00 and carried out its own fundraising.

A groundbreaking ceremony has taken place to mark the start of the work on the new facility, which is set to open in the autumn.

Revd Rob Miles, Rector of St Like’s Church said: “It feels amazing to have reached this point where we can see things actually happening!

“Reaching this point represents years of prayer, and of planning, fundraising, and a great deal of teamwork. Our conviction as a church is that we are called to serve a local community, and our hope is that the Hub will play a key role in this in the years ahead.”

Groundbreaking event on the site with Alicia Kearns in the digger

The hub will serve as a café for the local community, and will also offer a range of support services, including financial advice, bereavement support groups and opportunities for parents and other members of the community to come together.

Funding for the project has included £250,000 from the Government’s Community Ownership Fund and a £135,000 grant from Harborough District Council’s Section 106 scheme, where developers fund community improvements in areas where they have built new homes.

Alicia Kearns MP, Member of Parliament for Rutland and Melton said: “It was a real privilege to break ground at Thurnby’s new Community Centre and Café. After meeting the team here and campaigning for their bid with the Government, I am delighted they were awarded £250,000 from the Community Ownership Fund, and I am certain the centre will be a huge asset for the whole village of Thurnby.

“I’d like to congratulate St Luke’s Church and the extremely dedicated group of volunteers for all their hard work on this project. After six and a half years, it was really heart-warming to see community commitment pay off.  In particular I want to pay tribute to David Chiddick who has worked tirelessly to make the Hub a reality, and it’s such a testament to his love of Thurnby and our local communities.

The building has been designed by leading architects, Archangel, and the contract awarded to a local building firm, Brown and Shaw.