Local community group, Gatis Community Space, is today celebrating after being awarded just over £40,000 in National Lottery funding to support its work with community volunteers.

The group, based in Whitmore Reans, will use the cash to develop a new volunteering programme that aims to support mutual aid and help community members to support each other during the current crisis.

Gatis Community Space has been running since 2015 and has around 100 volunteers. It was founded by a group of like minded residents after council announcements that the centre which had originally been an adventure playground was due to close in a round of funding cuts.

The group has successfully turned the centre into a thriving community hub that runs a range of different groups and activities as well as supporting small local businesses, a varied volunteer programme and allowing local residents to dream big and trial project ideas. The centre has seen increasing visitor numbers as the varied projects have grown over the last five years and in June 2019 they were delighted to receive the Queens Award for Voluntary Service.

The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK, will see the group expand their volunteering programme in response to the current COVID 19 crisis. Developing a new Morale Officer volunteer role for community members who are supporting friends, family and neighbours throughout the crisis. This new development will allow for volunteers signing up to access support and training to improve themselves as well as peer support to help tackle local problems and help inform the centre what the needs of the local community are and how they can shape future activities to meet those needs.

Creating a web of mutual support across the area. Maria Billington, Centre Manager says: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. Now, thanks to National Lottery players we will be able to bring to life a project idea we have been working on for the past two years at a time when it is crucial that these kinds of support networks are in place, we need to be coming together and protecting our vulnerable community members as well as supporting each other. This funding will allow us to link people who would like to or are already supporting their neighbours and provide a place of safety for them to come together, learn from each other and explore issues.”

Carol Mumford one of the centers volunteers and local resident says: “I believe a good Morale Officer would be friendly, patient, understanding, good humoured and dedicated. I like to keep up-todate with events and groups within the community so I don't become isolated. Regular check-in and chats would be appreciated ”