Redrow’s Tom Ross-Gower visits Emmanuel Church to see how new tables purchased with help from the housebuilder are being put to good use by the community

A church which has set up an memory café for dementia sufferers and a meals service for the elderly has received a welcome boost from Redrow.

The homebuilder has donated £1,080 from its Hartford Community Fund to Emmanuel Church in Leftwich.

The money has helped towards payment for nine folding tables to be used by the church’s Senior Moments group meal service and its newly-launched memory café, among others.

Adele Bouckley, administrator for the Old Hall Road church, said: “The tables have already been bought and are being put to very good use by the Seniors Group and those using the Oasis memory café that has just been started for people with dementia.

“They are really helpful because it means the church can reach out to the community and become even more a part of it, and welcome more people here.”

Adele says when a new church and community centre – for which there is planning permission – are built it will be able to extend its arms out even wider.

Fellow church member Heather Smallwood, who applied for funding from Redrow, explained: “The new building will allow us to expand our work in many ways, for example with a large hall available for use and for hire. A community café will be a hub for meeting and sharing; there will be the potential for after-school homework clubs, adult classes, and access to green space for games on the green, and a large activities room for groups such as Scouts, Beavers, Brownies, Zumba and Keep Fit.”

“But don’t worry, we’ll take our new tables with us!” added Adele.

Since 2016 Redrow has invested more than £20,000 into the Hartford community via voluntary funds to support local projects and organisations like Emmanuel Church. Other beneficiaries include Hartford District & Lipreading Group, which received two donations to support its work providing people who are hard of hearing or deaf with a lifeline via classes and activities; while Acton Bridge WI was given funds to reprint a book about the area’s history.

Caroline Thompson-Jones, area sales manager for Redrow Homes (NW), said Redrow stored great value in becoming part of any community in which it builds – like that around its Hartford Grange development – and supporting a variety of groups with much-needed funding was one way of doing that.

“Communities flourish when people are involved, and when they look after and support one another,” she added. “Via our Hartford Community Fund we can provide financial contributions to help make that happen.

“Emmanuel Church is already reaching out to people, creating a focal point and a safe and pleasant environment, and we are delighted to support the wonderful efforts they are making now, and which they will continue in the future.”

Find out more about Redrow’s homes in Hartford via the website www.redrow.co.uk/hartfordgrange

Issued for & on behalf of Redrow Homes (NW) by Active PR.