RECENTLY, Ross Rotary Club agreed to donate £250 to the Tudorville and District Community Centre (TDCC) to help buy and install a set of wall mirrors to support their dance classes. In response to this Shari and Chris Cherington came to a meeting of Ross Rotary Club to talk about the history and aspirations of the TDCC.

Shari said she was appointed as activity coordinator for the TDCC on a three year contract in September 2013 as part of the conditions of the award of lottery funding for development of the centre. She went on to explain that her role was to show how the funding would increase the number of activities in the centre and consequently the number of people using it.

She said that the Tudorville Youth Centre building was previously owned by Herefordshire Council for youth services but in 2010 they announced that due to lack of resources the building was going to be closed, leaving the area without any community facility. However, a public meeting in February 2010 attended by 200 residents showed there was a great deal of support for the idea of the community running its own centre, and the TDCC Management Committee was formed. The building was transferred to TDCC on January 14, 2011 and a number of major improvements have since been made.

Shari went on to say that although there is always a need for additional volunteers, the TDCC is now successfully run as a community centre for the benefit of all ages and all groups, typical examples being the lunch club, the youth club and the dance classes. She added that the centre is a venue that is used by the community for family events, sports and leisure activities, and by other organisations for the delivery of services in the area.

After a number of questions from the members, President Stewart Ross thanked Shari for her informative talk and presented her with a cheque for the Rotary donation.