Community centre set to open doors

The centre will be situated in the former Tilling Green Primary School, which has been closed and boarded up for the past three years following the building of the new Rye Primary School.

Rye Partnership teamed up with local residents and other organisations and was successful in winning a lease contract from East Sussex County Council.

An army of volunteers, armed with paintbrushes and cleaning materials, will spring into action on March 23 to get the building ready for a big open day on March 26.

Volunteers will be from Amicus Horizon staff, as part of their commitment to the estate and the Centre.

Chrissy Stower. of Rye Partnership, said: “Following the announcement in November that the Rye Partnership had won the tender to re-open the former Tilling Green School, there are clear signs that the project is well under way.

“Over the next month or so passers by can expect to see the boards coming down and teams of workmen and volunteers getting on with the business of preparing the building for opening.”

“Rye Partnership is spearheading a Steering Group made up of partners that have come together. They include the Tilling Green Residents’ Association, Amicus Horizon Housing Association, RVA, the Youth Development Service, Ten Sixty Six Enterprise, Action in Rural Sussex and Hastings Furniture Service.

“They have been working tirelessly to submit applications for funding and to develop the services that will ensure that the Community Centre will be a thriving hub on the estate.”

And the project received a boost this week with a cheque for £250 towards the building renovation works, from the Jempson Foundation.

The Jempson Foundation was set up by the local Peasmarsh company, Jempsons, to celebrate their 75th anniversary.

Stephen Jempson said: “We are delighted to support this local project which meets our aim to improve the quality of life in the local community.”

The Tilling Green Residents’ Association has been successful in achieving £500 from the Rother Community Safety Fund for a community computer, and is looking to raise more funds through a variety of fundraising events over the next few months.

Members of the community will be able to visit the building, on March 26, and learn about the partners’ plans for the centre and discover how they can get involved.