Fernhurst Centre appoints new manager as it prepares to welcome visitors back

Over the past year, there has been plenty of time to reorganise, redecorate and complete staff training and now the coffee shop is ready for action.

Fernhurst residents, looking forward to seeing friends after weeks stuck at home, will be welcomed back to the Fernhurst Centre from April 12 with outdoor seating for take away coffee and refreshments.

Liz Rawlings said: “The Fernhurst Centre is a great meeting place for people of all ages and we are lucky there is plenty of space outside for tables and chairs.

"We can’t wait to start serving our loyal customers again and we will have a special offer on coffee and refreshments to tempt them back.”

Without being able to hold face-to-face events, the centre has kept busy with online language classes appealing to a record number of students.

Language tutor and trustee, Claudia Vargas said she was 'delighted' with the take up.

She said: ”Cecile Greener and I have just finished a busy term of French, Spanish and Italian classes and are planning and recruiting for the summer timetable, possibly with holiday courses as well to satisfy demand.

"We have a lot of laughs in our lessons, most people have loved the online teaching and find that our group meetings give a bit of structure to their week. A lot more ‘homework’ was done for my classes during lockdown compared to a normal termtime, which is great. We will stay online for now but hope to be back face to face in the Autumn.”

Meanwhile, there are school holiday events planned, starting with an Easter colouring activity for children on Good Friday and Easter Saturday at 10 am. There will be a free boxed

chocolate egg for all participants aged 3-11 in exchange for a completed coloured Fernhurst Easter picture handed in.

Pauline Colcutt, who has managed the centre and led the volunteer team to universal acclaim for over 15 years, said: “Although we cannot hold our usual Easter Egg Hunt, we were determined to host an activity for the local children and I look forward to meeting plenty of families outside the Centre next weekend.

"The past 12 months have been a challenge for the Centre but our volunteers have been wonderful and we have a fully refurbished coffee shop ready to go and great plans for a summer party once restrictions on socialising are lifted. Watch this space, as they say.”

Details of the Easter colouring event for children, language courses and other information about the Fernhurst Centre can be found at www.fernhurstcentre.org.uk, on Instagram an Twitter-@thefernhurstc - and on the Centre’s Facebook page. The Centre wishes all its supporters and customers a very Happy Easter.