A project supported by the Tarmac Landfill Communities fund has reached a new milestone.
The Arc, in Loughborough, Leicestershire has welcomed over 1000 visitors over the threshold since officially opening its doors on the 15th December 2019.
Local residents have been enjoying a number of activities including the baby and toddler group, coffee morning, Taekwondo, youth club, Pilates, yoga, and dance fitness groups.
Paul Gadd, chair of the Grange Park Centre charity, who operate the Arc said: “This is a huge milestone and demonstrates the needs that the community centre is helping to meet in the Shelthorpe Ward.”
The Arc was made possible with £500,000 from the Big Lottery Reaching Communities Building Fund. It has also raised over £200,000 from over 30 other trusts, and foundations, with donations from a number of local organisations including a Tarmac grant. The Tarmac Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) of £20,000 helped to provide essential landscaping around the site. This includes:
- Sloped paving to the main entrance allows easy access to the Arc for pushchairs and wheelchairs
- Large cycle shelter – used notably by the Thursday youth club – is helping encourage users to travel to the centre in more environmental ways
- A patio area accessed through the bi-folding doors from the main hall
- Landscaping around the site
Paul said: “We are thrilled by the support of Tarmac LCF award which enabled us to provide the landscaping element for the community, which was conditional as part of the planning consent from Charnwood Borough Council. Without it, we wouldn’t have been able to open the doors of the community centre.”
Over the coming months, the centre is looking to local residents to volunteer at or start new groups from the centre, to become a place for bringing people together to make new friends, celebrate common interests and support those who are lonely. Find out about The Arc at thearccommunityhub.org.uk