Purpose-built church and community centre gets cash

A church and community centre in Kirby-in-Ashfield is set to be demolished, making way for a new purpose-built £1.6 million community facility.

The Ashwood Centre, owned by Ashwood Church, is currently applying for outline planning permission for its new community facility and has received a £1,000 donation towards its costs.

Organisers of the proposed new community facility received the funds from our Nottingham region, through our Community Champions scheme and have currently raised over £400,000 towards the construction costs.
Claire Bell for Ashwood Church said: “We have an ambitious goal that will ultimately provide the community with a purpose-built new facility for the benefit of local clubs and groups to use, individual bookings and the home for Ashwood Church.

“We converted the former factory in 2002 and it has been successfully used by community groups and the church ever since, but the building is in desperate need of repair and the decision was made that it was best to demolish and rebuild. The help of companies, like Persimmon Homes, and the community will help make this new facility possible.”

Persimmon Homes Nottingham makes two donations of up to £1,000 every month to grassroots groups and charities across the region. Neil Follows, managing director of Persimmon Homes Nottingham, said: “Community Champions has allowed us to support dozens of good causes that are focused on supporting the heart of the community, so we were very pleased to help Ashwood Church’s project.”

In addition to the Community Champions scheme, we have launched our Building Futures initiative which supports groups working with under-18s. The scheme will make grants to projects across education & arts, health and sport, with the potential of a £100,000 prize giveaway.

Applications for the Persimmon Homes Community Champions or Building Futures schemes can be made at www.persimmonhomes.com/charity