The management committee agreed the significant investment in the community facilities in June 2020 during lockdown with the needs of local people at the forefront of the mind.

Since December 2020, £13,000 of the funding has been spent on the Hub which is currently closed due to COVID-19 restrictions and improvements include the installation of a new kitchen, as well as upgrades and decoration of the kitchen, community hall and the old IT suite.

The upgrade of the kitchen also includes a modern oven, dishwasher and fresh worktops with integrated storage space, ensuring the kitchen can be used efficiently and shared safely between different community groups.

The housing association which works closely with residents to understand their needs and aspirations for the Wellhouse development, is already in talks with non-for-profit groups looking to use the new kitchen to benefit the local community.

In addition, WHA will carry out a range of planned works on the doors, roofs and lifts of public spaces to complement the remodelling of the community hall and office reception which were also completed in recent years. To carry out this work the community run housing association will further utilise the £83,000 budget which was set aside in June last year, which is made up of a combination of funds from reserves and earned income from its commercial tenants.

Darron Brown, chair of Wellhouse Housing Association, said: “The ambition for the upgraded Hub is to create a place for residents and groups to come together to strengthen community bonds and I look forward to seeing how else the Wellhouse community and local charities will use this vital space once work is complete.

“We have a number of exciting initiatives waiting in the wings and as soon as COVID- 19 restrictions permit, we will put them in place.”