ABBOTSVALE COMMUNITY CENTRE YEARLY REPORT 2020
October 2021
Abbotsvale Community Centre is once again busy with community users and groups that have all returned after the Covid lockdown since March 2020. It has been a very hard 18 months for everyone but we are now seeing a little more of normal life on the horizon. We continue to follow all government guidelines to ensure the safe use of the building for all users, which includes mask wearing and hand gel, social distancing and regular Lateral flow tests for staff both in the Community Centre and our tenants Cheeky Monkeys Nursery.
We have been lucky enough to be able to apply for government grants and the furlough scheme over the last 18 months that have enabled the Community centre to stay open ready for when this Virus is a dim and distant nightmare and to continue paying our manager Karen whilst the centre was closed to all users. Without this financial assistance from local government grants and the furlough scheme the Community Centre would be no more, which would be an immense loss to all local residents and groups that regularly rely on us.
All groups that have returned have also found it very hard, some not being able to access funding available due to not fitting into the right criteria, this has been a real struggle for them so we are even more thrilled that they now have returned and numbers are increasing.
It is lovely to finally see the over 55’s return last month after 15 months of not being able to run due to the numbers in the hall and covid restrictions. I think the isolation has been doubly hard on the older generation so its amazing to see so many familiar faces returning to our centre.
The numbers attending the Cheeky Monkeys Nursery have now also returned to normal after initially having to close its door in 2020. Parents now feel reassured that Kerry the Nursery Owner, Sam the manager and their staff are doing all they can to make sure the children are as safe as can be, including doing Lateral flow tests twice a week for all staff.
After receiving funding from the National Lottery, awards for all scheme, new CCTV cameras and ceiling fire detectors will be replaced in the Centre and the Nursery rooms, with the emergency lighting being done back in 2019. The health and safety of our users remains high on our priority list.
All the groups that have now returned have commented how lovely and fresh the centre looks after Karen came into the centre while it was closed to all users and decorated the hall and toilets.
As we near the end of yet another year blighted by Covid all we can do is hope things improve over the coming months and years as the vaccine program increases. Luckily all the Association members have kept themselves safe, the Abbotsvale Community Centre stays strong ready to give service to the local community for many years to come.
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North Wert BOROUGH OF BARROW IN FURNESS Kar¢n Lancaster C¢ntre Manager Abbotsvale Communiry Awiati AblxTrtsvale Barrow in Furness Cumbria LA13 9PA Barrow Borough Council Resources Directorate Internal Audit Town Hall ' Duke Street Barrow-in-Fumess ' Cumbria LA14 2LD Tel. (01229) 876543 DX No." 63917 8arrow-In-Fumes$ Email." customerservices@barrowbc.gov.uk Our Ref: BBCIKJ CoDts¢t N¥m¢: K Jackson Date: I l Jan 2022 Your Ref: Tel No: (01229) 876393 ABBOTSVALE COMMUNITY ASSOCIAT10Tr4 Accounts for year eTrdtd 31° M*rch 2021 Thank yiw for relurning the signed smen1 of accouni. I have now certified the ststement and enclose a wpy for your records and for presenlation to your Commillee and Annual meeiing. Thank you for your cLwpeTation. Yours 5inc¢rely, K Jackson Head of Internal Audii Copy to.. Steph Cord¢rt. Dir¢etor of People und Place Chl•f Ex•G Sam Plum Susan Roterts