An exciting new community centre based at Melville Court in Chatham has officially opened its doors.
Run by the Royal Voluntary Service, the Victory Community Centre is home to a café and wide range of activities including gentle exercise sessions, IT workshops, yoga, genealogy classes and more.
"We’re proud to be working with the Royal Voluntary Service, and we really value their work to support people in our local community. Working in partnership with both Royal Voluntary Service and Medway Council, we’re delighted to support the redevelopment of the Victory Community Centre, which will provide a valuable community hub right at the heart our housing estate at Melville Court", said Ian Long, Business Partner at mhs homes
The centre was officially opened last week when Royal Voluntary Service volunteer, Lillian Lyons cut the ribbon. 87-year-old Lillian has been volunteering with the charity for nine years. She was welcomed by The Mayor of Medway, Councillor Habib Tejan.
We attended the launch event alongside representatives from the Royal Voluntary Service, volunteers and clients, Medway Council and other local groups.
The new centre replaces the popular Royal Voluntary Service Medway Centre, which had previously been set for closure. However, it has been relocated to this new, bigger premises, thanks to support from us and Medway Council.
"This refurbishment has been a really exciting project to manage. We’ve had lots of great contractors involved throughout and I’d like to send them my thanks and appreciation, especially to Dulux who donated more than 30 tins of paint. The centre will provide a community space for local people to come together and socialise, whilst benefiting from the facilities and activities", said Project Survey Josh Arthur, who managed the project from mhs homes' side
Whilst the charity’s former centre was traditionally for those in later life, the Royal Voluntary Service is keen for the Victory Community Centre to be used by people from across the generations.
"We are delighted to be able to continue to support people in the community through the new Centre. We have exciting plans for the future and because we now have a larger space, we also hope to offer even more activities to the local community. We are very grateful to mhs homes and Medway Council for their support and providing us with the opportunity to retain and grow our services here in Chatham" said Rebecca Kennelly, Director of Volunteering at Royal Voluntary Service
The Royal Voluntary Service is one of Britain’s largest volunteering charities with over 20,000 volunteers supporting thousands of people each month in hospitals and in the community.
The charity is also one of the largest retailers in the NHS, with its network of cafes, shops and trolley services providing a valued haven in hospitals.
As a part of the opening, the Royal Voluntary Service also highlighted items of equipment the centre still needs to allow it to fulfill its potential. For instance, it is currently seeking support from the community to contribute/help fund items including a defibrillator, acoustic sliding doors, trestle tables, a fridge freezer (new or nearly new) and baby change facilities. It is also hoping people will come forward to lend their skills and expertise to lead new activity classes, provide support with boxing in electrics and painting a mural.
