REFURBISHMENT work at a popular town parish hall room is nearing completion.
Work to transform the Guild Room, at St Mary’s Parish Hall in Newgate, Barnard Castle, moved on a pace last week when a team of trainee decorators arrived on site.
The Trades4Care team, which sees professionals supervising students from Bishop Auckland College while they complete decorating work for community groups such as village halls and care homes, spent five days sprucing up the room.
The students, under the watchful eye of Charlie Wright, from Trades4Care, tended to the woodwork, walls and ceilings, fuelled by daily deliveries of cake from members of the hall association.
Clare Trevett, chairwoman of the parish hall association, said: “One of the big drivers for the renovation was when the warm place initiative was introduced.
“We wanted to be able to provide somewhere that was warm and inviting and not too big to heat.”
As well as sprucing up the tired paintwork, the refurbishment has seen the kitchen upgraded and a new refreshment service area installed.
A large, walk-in storage cupboard has also been fitted. LED lighting has been installed and aging windows will be replaced with double glazed units.
Mrs Trevett added: “It’s been a lot of work and there is still some to do. We will be replacing the carpet and upgrading the boiler. We wanted to make the room more inviting and hospitable for smaller groups.
“We have followed Trades4Care in the Teesdale Mercury and we got in touch with them to see if they could help us with the project.
“We are delighted to be able to provide an opportunity for young people to gain valuable work experience in a safe, professional, nurturing environment.”
The work has been funded by the National Lottery Community Fund as well as from Durham County Council’s community building energy efficiency grants with match funding from county councillors Richard Bell and Ted Henderson’s neighbourhood budgets.
She said: “We’re looking forward to completing the transformation and inviting current and potential users and hirers to view the upgraded facility, hopefully before Christmas.”
Charlie Wright from Trades4Care said: “We’ve been really busy this year and it’s great to be back in Teesdale.
“Once we have completed the work here at the parish hall we will be spending eight weeks at Butterwick Hospice, but we’re going to be back in Teesdale in a couple of months with a big project.
“We will be doing a lot of work in the dale and will have about 20 placements available for young people,” he added.
“It’s going to be a great opportunity for them to come out, help us and get some skills, so if anyone is thinking of coming into the decorating trade and wants to get some experience they should get in touch.”
For more information about Trades4Care email [email protected].
