Regeneration specialist Lovell Partnerships has donated £20,000 to St John’s Youth and Community Centre in South Hatfield to support renovations and improvements.
The community centre is located adjacent to the development site and is recognised as an important local facility, hosting community groups and children’s activities like the Brownies.
Sheila Archer, treasurer at St John’s Youth and Community Centre, received a cheque from Lovell community engagement manager Alexandra Robins.
Barbara Fitzsimon, mayor of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, and Ka Ng, chief executive of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, were in attendance.
Lawrence Archer, Lovell development manager, said: “As a leading regeneration company, Lovell has community interest at heart and always looks to improve areas within which we work for existing and future residents.
“We are pleased to support existing local facilities, such as St John’s Youth and Community Centre, to complement the regeneration of the area that we are achieving through our development works.
“The centre does great work, and we hope our contribution will support this to continue long term.”
Rev Andy Gardner, from the St John’s Youth and Community Centre, added: “The grant will enable us to carry out some much-needed improvements to the facilities of St John’s Youth and Community Centre, in several important areas.
“For example, we aim to increase the number of car parking spaces whilst also re-levelling the pathways and installing better external lighting.
“This is all to give easier access for elderly and disabled persons as well as users with prams and pushchairs for young children.
“The grant will also enable some urgent repairs and upgrades to the entrance lobby and internal doors, which will enable us to better serve and welcome the many local groups from the south Hatfield area that use the centre.”
Image: (L-R) Sheila Archer, treasurer at St John’s Youth and Community Centre, with Lovell community engagement manager Alexandra Robins
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