To mark the club’s one year anniversary and show its commitment to the local community, Central Sussex Rotary has completed two projects in Mid Sussex: tidying up the garden of Mid Sussex Voluntary Action’s Cherry Tree Centre and redecorating at the Yews Community Centre in Haywards Heath.
Rotarians donned their gardening gear as they took to tidying up, replanting and repainting the gardens of the Cherry Tree Centre of Mid Sussex Voluntary Action (MVSA).
“We were really pleased to be able to do some good for two wonderful organisations. It is nice to be able to help those who help others and we had a lot of fun doing so.
The group weeded the area, overhauled the planters, replanted and then repainted them with generous donations made by B&Q Burgess Hill to give them a new lease of life so all the users of the centre can enjoy a quiet and peaceful space.
Lauren Lloyd, CEO of MSVA said: “We are thrilled with the difference that Central Sussex Rotary have made to the overall look of our outdoor space. Rotary volunteers spent hours repainting the planters and the space now looks inviting and smart.
“It has completely changed the look of our outside areas and we are incredibly grateful to Rotary for helping us in this way. The renovated space has served as a wellbeing boost and has improved the mental health of visitors to the Cherry Tree. Thank you again!”.
A team of dedicated Rotarians at the Cherry Tree Centre of Mid Sussex Voluntary Action (MVSA).
In neighbouring Haywards Heath, Central Sussex Rotary picked up their paint brushes to freshen up the corridors of the Yews Community Centre, repainting a counselling room, the communal walkways on the first floor and one of the toilet facilities in a two-phased project.
Having seen a call for help on a local community board listing, Central Sussex Rotary responded, providing five volunteers in total to help complete the project.
Ian Sanderson, Chair of The Yews Trustee Board said: “Following your efforts last year to redecorate the Graham Cloake Lounge and part of the upstairs corridor, we are once again grateful to your team for completing the repainting of the remainder of the upstairs corridor and one of our downstairs toilets.
The fact that the upstairs now looks fresh and bright is already attracting new long-term users, which are the bedrock of our finances. We have recently hired rooms to counsellors and small businesses which is a real help to the continuity of The Yews. It was some years ago that the toilet was painted and with heavy usage the wall was in need of a refresh and the team have done a great job.”
Central Sussex Rotarians picked up their paint brushes to freshen up the corridors of the Yews Community Centre.
In total, Central Sussex Rotary donated 72 hours of time to the projects, which it says is just the beginning of its plans to help support the local community with service projects.
The club plans to undertake a range of voluntary projects in the community as well as fundraising and collecting to send goods and monies to those most in need abroad, including in Romania, Moldova and Ukraine.
Steve Smyth, President of Central Sussex Rotary, said: “We were really pleased to be able to do some good for two wonderful organisations. It is nice to be able to help those who help others and we had a lot of fun doing so.
“I’d also like to thank B&Q in Burgess Hill for donating flowers and paint to help us make these projects a success, their generosity is greatly appreciated. We’re always looking for community-minded people to join us, and encourage anyone who is interested to get in touch to see how they can join in, we have much more to do!”
