BRIDGEND CENTRE GOES ON BUILDING BRIDGES IN COMMUNITY

Macclesfield MP, David Rutley, recently met Ms Rebecca Lea, Centre Manager, to thank her and the staff and volunteer team for the vital work that the Bridgend Centre has been doing on behalf of local residents in and around Bollington during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Centre’s shop is currently open to enable the charity to raise funds to carry on providing its much-valued activities. Donations of items can be made with an appointment, with a limit of four bags, and appointments can be booked on the following link - https://bridgendcentre.org.uk/ David was pleased to learn that the shop is being actively used and that the charity has also been able to sell goods on ebay to help raise as much money as possible from the kind donations it receives.

Virtual meetings are being held with those who use the services provided by the Bridgend Centre and a weekly well-received “Bridging Social Isolation” newsletter has been circulated for over twenty weeks. The regular programme of walks organised by the charity is planned to restart later in September, although there will be a lower limit of eight participants in each group. When social distancing regulations permit, it is hoped that activities will be able to be held in person at the Centre.

The Bridgend Centre team are planning further fundraising activities following the successful Virtual Bollington Nostalgia Hill Race. The event, which took place from 28^th June – 12^th July asked runners to record their 10 km run on a GPS app or take a picture of their treadmill statistics and then send it to the organisers at the Bridgend Centre. It was a real success with £2,045 being raised by participants.

As Patron of the charity, David was also given a tour of the facilities, including a review of the new roof that was completed earlier in the year, following a substantial investment. Ms Lea also set out future plans for the first-floor rooms to be used to support the charity’s activities.

Following the visit David said “I was pleased to visit the Bridgend Centre once again and see first-hand the important work the team is continuing to do in challenging circumstances on behalf of local Bollington residents. I would encourage local people to go on supporting the Bridgend Centre by either donating items or visiting the shop. As Patron, I will continue to do all I can to support Rebecca and the Bridgend Centre Team in achieving their vital and ambitious plans for the future.”