City of Lincoln Council is pleased to announce significant improvement works and activities funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund that will benefit residents of Ermine.
The council is supporting Alive Church and Bishop Grosseteste University to bring this project forward, which includes a focus on strengthening the community spaces at Ermine Library and Sudbrooke Drive Community Centre to develop welcoming and accessible hubs for all, with access to many different activities and services.
The first project will see a significant refurbishment of Sudbrooke Drive and will be working with Gelders as the appointed contractor.
Sudbrooke Drive Community Centre comprises a sports hall, meeting rooms, kitchens, toilets, changing rooms with showers, two full-size football pitches, badminton, pickleball, and table tennis which are available upon request, and carpet bowls and an on-site car park. The community centre is available to the public for bookings and hires.
The project focuses on modernising the centre and ensuring enhanced accessibility throughout. Improvements will include the installation of new double automatic doors at the main entrance, ensuring easier and more inclusive access for visitors, alongside improved heating and lighting.
To further improve accessibility, several doors throughout the centre will be widened to accommodate wheelchairs and mobility scooters, addressing previous issues in both the main meeting room and corridors.
The main meeting room will undergo full redecoration, including carpet replacement, creating a fresh and inviting space for the delivery of a new coffee shop run by Alive Church and to allow for community gatherings.
Additionally, external landscaping and security enhancements will be carried out, contributing to both the appearance and safety of the centre’s surroundings.
Upgrades to self-contained, DDA-compliant toilet facilities will provide further accessibility for those with limited mobility.
Cllr Bob Bushell at City of Lincoln Council said:
“The refurbishment of Sudbrooke Drive Community Centre is an exciting step in our ongoing efforts to provide accessible, modern, and welcoming facilities for our residents. These improvements will ensure that the centre remains a valuable hub for community activities, offering something for everyone. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this project will have on the local community.”
Simon Nicholl, Strategic Lead (Lincoln North) at Alive church, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to be working with the City of Lincoln Council, BGU and others on this exciting venture. We are in the process of transforming the space into a safe and welcoming coffee shop that the community can access, enjoy and have access to a variety of services.
“We have been working with a wide range of partners, as well as members of the community, to create a hub that will not only look to address many of the challenges residents face in accessing support but serve great coffee too!”
Alongside the refurbishment of Sudbrooke Drive Community Centre, funding has also been allocated to BGU to further develop activities from their Hub at Ermine Library, including the creation of a new community garden space.
Sarah Moseley, Head of Social Purpose at Bishop Grosseteste University, said:
“BGU’s purpose is to support individuals to realise their ambitions and create positive change in their communities and beyond.
“We are therefore extremely grateful that we have been awarded funding to enable us to increase the Ermine Library and Community Hubs opening hours, create jobs as well as additional volunteering opportunities.
“The Ermine library and Community Hub is a safe, trusted, welcoming and accessible space and has a central role in the community.
“In the 12 months preceding the funding, the total number of visitors was 7,534. We expect this to grow as we are now able to offer late night opening on Wednesday evenings and provision on Saturday mornings.”
This refurbishment and funding in the area reflects the City of Lincoln Council’s commitment to improving local facilities and providing high-quality community spaces for all.