2022-12-31-accounts - Middleton St George Community Association

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Despite the difficult number of months, how the management team of Trustees have risen to the occasion………….

During the year we have made so many changes to the premises, to the administration and management systems as well as Trustee changes. In June 2021 a small group of us, Louise, Maria, Marion, Hannah, Sue and myself set out to work together and make a big difference as a working Team. (together everyone achieves more) We did a recruitment drive and this allowed us to have James Mc Curley join us along with Deborah Laing as Trustees. Then we became 8. And I can tell you that increasing our numbers allowed for a better distribution of the work necessary to keep the Community Centre running.

So, what did we achieve……………..

January/February – we pursued Damp Stop for outstanding monies or should I say Marion did!

We raised the full amount of money for the defibrillator and our thanks to the Cricket Club, Parish Council and the community for their generous donations to achieve this. Our unit was installed early March and an unveiling ceremony took place with Louise, Alan Blacklee, Adrian Marshall from the PC and Steve Torrinson of the Cricket Club.

We obtained a grant from the TVRA to upgrade our wheelchair access toilet. A new front door was installed giving wider access.

The hallway carpet was renewed, painted and pictures put up that were kindly given by MSG In Bloom. Maria spent evenings collating the photographs and putting into frames which now adorn the hallway entrance. We also changed the lighting to be automatic rather than switched.

Trees in the grounds were pollarded and made safe from overhang although there is still some work to do.

July saw the start of the very successful outside Community Market run by a hirer Hannah Scott. This continued for the next few months culminating in the Christmas finale. This is due to start again on Saturday 2[nd] April 2022

We had additional Trustee support and as I mentioned James Mc Curley joined and shortly after so did Deborah Laing. This meant that we became 8 and from that moment we started to really move……………..

The Christmas Tree needed attention and Deborah took action with raising the Star at the top and James climbed ladders to reinstate the tree lights. Support coming from John Wade by way of a cherry picker. Thank you Deborah for organizing.

The outside tiles were removed and replaced with new. For the smokers a new outside bin installed. Additional CCTV cameras, upgrade of our Fire Alarm unit with regular alarm testing spearheaded by Hannah.

Nursery doors replaced and painted and a new safety gate installed for the children going from the nursery to their outdoor fun area.

We installed a water Butt and it has worked well during the summer.

A new noticeboard was installed near the centre entrance gate, promoting many activities and community events. Read by many that don’t have the internet!

A flagpole was installed and currently we have the MSG flag flying but for more official events, our Union Jack will fly.

The breaker panel was moved up from the Nursery and positioned in the corner for easier access.

Sadly, we did have another flood of water in the Nursery but fortunately we were covered by our insurance for repair costs. At this point I would like to thank the Nursery Team led by Lesley Dobbs for their patience whilst we made repairs and renovations and for putting up with the upheaval of moving to the main hall here for 3 weeks whilst work was carried out. My thanks also to those hirers that had to forego their daytime activities so that the Nursery could continue to run.

At this point Paul Wilson a recently joining Trustee, took to overseeing the progress of the work whilst away on holiday…..my thanks to Paul for his support and knowledge of repair works.

There are many more projects to be undertaken and this includes the pathways being repaired and resurfaced, the car park renewal will start shortly and a new grasscrete surface to be installed with a complete remodeling of the area. This will allow additional parking of up to 20 more cars. A welcome replacement to the mud holes we currently have!

I mentioned a Meet & Eat programme that allows for local residents (over a certain age) to have a 2-course lunch at the Darlington Catering College – and at no charge! This did morph into Fish Friday for Jan and February this year and was followed by a Bingo session. 50 plus attendees join us each month and still more coming. Transport is laid on at a discounted price from the TVRA, with buses leaving the car park and returning after lunch. My thanks for those Trustees helping, with Marion Ogle doing the raffle and selling the bingo cards, Paul, his wife Carol helping set up, Deborah with food collections and Maria.. running the kitchen. All good fun and a great community spirit being borne.

For a short while we did have a T Dance and organised by Marion and Sue (instructor). The attendance was good at the beginning but did gradually pita out, so this we dropped.

What’s on our Wish list :

Sensory Garden – overseen by Louise

Dishwasher – Maria & Paul

Replacing the chairs – mostly Louise

New surface for this floor - All

Outdoor gym with fitness activity units installed – Deborah, myself and Hannah

Extension to the building facing the new car park. This to allow for extra activities, classes and hopefully a new ‘Club Lounge’ for residents to come and sit comfortably whilst having a tea or coffee. Anna (our most recent trustee) myself, Deborah and Hannah (all really)

New ceiling and paint job for this main hall - Louise

Repaint the kitchen – Paul

Replace hand dryer units in the toilets and in the Nursery - Me

You can see how much there is to do and what we want for our community centre.

My thanks to Maria for her hard work and copious amounts of pc screen time.

Running a successful community centre requires a great deal of time, effort and dedication and the team sat here next to me, have provided just that.

Paul has helped with repair jobs within the building and did a great job of retiling the nursery kitchen. He has also recently framed the mirrors over there. Thanks again Paul.

Deborah has been instrumental in dealing with contractors, supply of chain saw cutting and kitchen help not to mention chaperoning our residents for the Meet & Eat events.

Maria has been dealing with the documentation to run this centre correctly and supplying oodles of support for me. Which is good because although I have spell checker, she has the grammar! She also handles the booking for new hirers, interviews some and then posts the events on our calendar for all to see. Thanks so much to her role as Vice Chair she is remaining as a Trustee and will continue supporting us on a number of different projects. Thank Louise. (Paul you have a steep ladder in front of you)

I would like to thank our Ward Councillors, Doris and Brian Jones together with Deborah Laing for their unending support for our team and this community centre. They also put our names forward for the Darlington Stronger Communities Awards 2021 in the ‘Contribution to the Community section’, we were runners up when we attended the event in November but has made us even more determined to do better next year! My thanks to Doris, Brian and Deborah.

My thanks also go to the Darlington Borough Council for including our community centre in their initiatives. Which included hiring the centre for Covid testing, youth initiatives and grants to name but a few.

Now, Andy Hill from Londis has for a number of years been helping the community centre with bookings, dispensing keys and generally providing background help when needed. Andy, thank you very much and please pass our thanks to your team, Janet, Michael, Kelly just to name a few.

Thank you

From us the Trustees……..

Sue, Paul, Deborah, Marion, Hannah, Anna, Louise and Maria,

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