A Carlisle housebuilder has donated much needed funds to help spruce up Brampton Community Centre.

Story Homes, based in Kingmoor Business Park, has made a donation towards tools and decorating materials to help volunteers working at the centre, on Union Lane, to refresh its look and help the community recover from the impact of Covid-19.

The developer says the gift is because of its Winchester Place development in the town – to help the community.

Emma Thorburn, assistant centre manager, said: “We are thrilled to have received such a generous donation from Story Homes.

“We will use it to purchase a badly needed set of tools to enable volunteers to carry out routine maintenance, plus decorating materials so they can brighten up those parts of the community centre that would greatly benefit from a lick of paint as we prepare to play our part in helping the community to recover from the impacts of the virus.”

Andrew Pearson, production director for the firm, who recently visited the centre, said: “The homes we build are part of wider communities, so helping charities and organisations that benefit local people is very important to us.

“We endeavour to support local charities and organisations in ways that adds long term value.

“As a Carlisle-headquartered business, it is great to help the centre who are doing fantastic work within the community and surrounding area.”

The community centre provides a much-valued service to about 60,000 residents every year, this includes visiting the community café, taking part in activities, or attending one of the many classes.

It’s owned and operated by Brampton and Beyond Community Trust, a registered charity, that is managed by local people for the benefit of those living, working, and volunteering in Brampton and the surrounding parishes.

One of the initiatives run from the centre is SHINE (Support, Help in Nourishing Everyone) a project which began due to the Covid-19 crisis, run by a group of volunteers who’s focus was to get food parcels and meals to those in need, in the town and outlying districts.

Last month Carol Bell, from the project, said: “Many have found their main source of income cut through job losses.

“Food poverty is real and can hit anybody at any time.”