COULD you help to transform this derelict building into a new community hub?
The Rock Foundation – which for the past five years has helped those with learning disabilities and other disadvantages to build a better life – has bought its first permanent home.
They hope to convert the former council building, in Heneage Road, into a purpose-made centre, with larger classrooms, "flats" to help teach service users how to live independently, kitchen facilities, craft workshops, IT rooms and much more.
Doing so will enable them to double the amount of young adults they can help, from 83 to 160 – and maybe even more in the future.
However, vandals and thieves have left the team with a great deal of work to do before they are able to move in – which they plan to do at the beginning of September.
The building has been standing empty since October and, since then, electrics, copper piping and kitchen units have been torn out and other fixtures and fittings have been damaged.
And now the team is calling on you to help them restore it to its former glory.
Director Ken Smith said: "The structure is perfect for us, but there is a lot needs doing to it. It is in pretty poor condition.
"I will need work parties here every day for the next eight weeks.
"As well as asking people to give their time and, dare I say it, make a financial contribution, we are also appealing for local firms to donate materials and fittings."
The charity's founder Pam Hodge added: "We are a Grimsby charity and we are calling on North East Lincolnshire people and North East Lincolnshire businesses to get alongside us to help give us our own permanent building for our service users and the community alike.
"All the classrooms are larger, which will be better for us and the additional room will allow us to provide a bigger and better service for the community.
"It's not just for adults with learning difficulties. It's a really exciting project."
As well as expanding on the current services on offer at Holme Hill, among the planned facilities the charity aims to offer to the wider community are:
A food bank
Advice centre for single parents
A meeting place for the elderly and isolated
Evening sessions for both service users and members of the public.
Ken added: "The space is fantastic. We plan to divide the kitchen area into four, so that we can have three students and a support worker working in each kitchen at once.
"We really will need a lot of help now. We have got a little bit of funding, but the majority of our funds went on buying the building, so we have nowhere near what we are going to need to do the work."
If you can help the team, please contact Pam on 01472 488026 or 07712850466.
FANCY A CHALLENGE?
THE Rock Foundation are appealing for the following:
Financial donations
Skips
Painters
Carpet fitters
Joiners
Plasterers
Electricians
Cleaners
Window fitters
Stainless steel kitchen equipment
Plumbers
Bathroom fittings
