Major boost for 'lifeline' Mansfield community centre as it gets £50,000 upgrade

The rain is no longer coming in at a Ladybrook community centre – which has provided a lifeline to Mansfield folk during lockdown – thanks to a £50,000 upgrade.
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Improvements at Ladybrook Community Centre have been funded by Nottinghamshire County Council’s Local Improvement Scheme (LIS)

The first stage saw a damaged roof replaced and work is underway to make the building damp-free for the hundreds of people the centre supports.

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It is owned and run by a small charity called Ladybrook Enterprises Ltd, which provides facilities for social welfare, recreation and leisure, education and skills. During lockdown it operated key services, helping people cope with the Covid restrictions.

The Ladybrook Community Centre has received a major cash boost to carry out improvements and repairs to the building.The Ladybrook Community Centre has received a major cash boost to carry out improvements and repairs to the building.
The Ladybrook Community Centre has received a major cash boost to carry out improvements and repairs to the building.

It provided a befriending service, with more than 550 calls made by volunteers to those isolated in the community and delivered almost 600 free food parcels during the first lockdown.

Since September, there have been more than 600 visits to the centre as part of a community share scheme which offers free clothing, shoes, toiletries and food items.

Lian Nixon-Chater, the charity’s services manager, said, “We have had a roof that has let in rain water for over a decade, having purchased the centre from our landlords back in December, 2019 we knew this was our opportunity to get the centre to the state our customers deserve.

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"The funding we received from Nottinghamshire County Council has been invaluable and now means those visiting the centre for our therapeutic services, physical and mental health support services and community share scheme no longer have to navigate their way around tubs collecting water.”

L-R Ladybrook Enterprises Ltd -  Margaret Nuttall, volunteer for 17 years and board of trustees member with its CEO Sharon Reynolds pictured in 2018.L-R Ladybrook Enterprises Ltd -  Margaret Nuttall, volunteer for 17 years and board of trustees member with its CEO Sharon Reynolds pictured in 2018.
L-R Ladybrook Enterprises Ltd - Margaret Nuttall, volunteer for 17 years and board of trustees member with its CEO Sharon Reynolds pictured in 2018.

Coun John Handley, vice-chairman for the council’s Communities & Place Committee said the cash boost was a ‘great example’ of the scheme investing in ‘local' projects helping to make ‘our communities a better place to live’.

Ladybrook Enterprises Ltd CEO Sharron Reynolds said: "We are delighted that the roof and works have been completed after 10 years of managing buckets and drips. We can now focus on re-building our services.”

Mansfield West county councillors Diana Meale and Paul Henshaw have welcomed the ‘essential’ investment.

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“These repairs and improvements were much needed. This wonderful centre is at the heart of our community and a lifeline for many.” said Coun Meale.

Coun Hensahw added: “This centre improves the lives of so many local people

For centre information visit www.ladybrookcommunitycentre.co.uk.