A volunteer led wellness centre in Yarm is a step closer to opening after receiving a £1,000 donation from Community Champions.

Emma Tomkins from Yarm Youth & Community Association (YYCA) explains: “Our charity aims to create a volunteer led wellness centre which will be specifically aimed at alleviating the effects of isolation among our community, such as with the elderly, new mums and the unemployed.

“We are set to open a pleasant, safe space for local people to engage in a variety of free creative workshops with the aim of helping to build confidence, engender a healthy mind set and support re-employability. Our most vulnerable users will initially reach us through referrals from GP’s social prescribers.

“Some of the activities we plan to run include a pensioners’ lunch and tea dance along with veteran’s breakfasts, a community café and a pantry using surplus items from local supermarkets will be onsite. A man shed and sensory garden with chatty benches are all part of our vision for the centre and we hope to have a real diversity of users with people of all ages, cultures and religions welcome and represented.

“The centre building dates from 1852 and belongs to the local authority.  It is in need of extensive renovation and our committee has contacted local businesses and community groups for support and we have secured around £100k of materials and labour, plus 1700 volunteer hours.

“Our current round of fundraising is aimed at securing the money needed to complete the interior work so we can provide a pleasant and welcoming environment for our users.  We are really grateful to Persimmon Homes Teesside for this generous donation to our cause.”

Joan Peart, sales director for Persimmon Homes Teesside, added: “The establishment of the YYCA seems to be a great idea that will undoubtedly provide a fantastic facility for the local community in and around Yarm. Community Champions was created to help with projects such as this that will made a big difference to people here and we are really pleased to be able to help with this donation.”