Immingham community centre gets vote of confidence from 101-year-old Alice

A 101-YEAR-OLD is singing the praises of a refurbished community centre which she attends weekly.

The Bert Boyden Health And Wellbeing Centre, in Carver Road, Immingham, has received a fresh new look to the rear of the building with a new social room and disabled toilet.

The centre will still primarily offer day opportunities for older people but it is now hoped other users and organisations will take advantage of the new refurbishment.

Organisations currently using the centre include Bright Spot, a group that runs activities and outings for people with learning disabilities, aged 12 and over, and CatZero, a charity which helps young people who are not in employment, education or training to achieve better lives.

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Alice Skelton, 101, is the centre's oldest service user and is encouraging people to make good use of the facility.

The Stratford House, Grimsby, resident said: "I have attended the centre for the past 14 years now and I still find it wonderful.

"I come every Monday and Tuesday and get involved in knitting, colouring and general arts and crafts.

"My favourite activity has to be the colouring in.

"The staff here are fantastic and I feel at home when I visit.

"I have also made some great friends.

"The refurbished part of the building looks very smart and it will be a good venue for other activities and groups to use."

The Mayor of North East Lincolnshire, Councillor Mike Burton, and his wife, Mayoress Audrey Burton, were invited to view the refurbished area.

For Mrs Burton, the centre has some personal connections as she worked there for over a decade.

She began as a cook but later turned her hand to being a bus escort, taking the users of the centre to and from their homes.

Delighted with the new look, she said: "It was nice to be invited back and to see some familiar faces such as Alice. I can see that people who already use the centre really enjoy it. They are all happy.

"I would strongly encourage other organisations and groups to come forward and use the new space available.

"It is a large, open room with plenty of light coming in and has its own disabled toilet attached."

Frank Gardiner, 85, has attended the centre for the past two years since his wife died.

He said: "Coming here regularly is a big help as it gets me out of the house and socialising with others.

"I think it is great that staff are trying to reach out more to the community and allow other things to take place here."