Plenty on offer at Castle Connections
16:52, 03 October 2012
At the heart of the Queenborough community is the thriving Castle Connections centre.
Since it opened in January 2010 - it has gone from strength to strength and is now a hive of activity.
It’s always busy and there’s plenty going on for people of all ages.
The centre, in North Road, is the renovated former Queenborough Junior School and today it played host to the Sheerness Times Guardian team as part of our STG On Tour project.
There are a huge range of activities on offer, from tai-chi to arts and crafts, a youth club and bingo.
A popular Autumn Leaves club for older residents is coming on leaps and bounds where people meet to socialise and have dinner.
Castle Connections also provide takeaway meals for those people who have trouble getting out.
The recent 365 photographic exhibition has been hugely popular and many people visit to have a look at the old photos which line the stairwell.
There is also a function room which can be hired out for weddings, christenings and wakes and the centre is a venue for various training courses for the community.
The busy cafe is open six days a week and they have a varied menu as well as serving snacks and teas and coffees.
A new coffee machine has proved a hit.
Acting project worker Suzanne Backshallcorr said: “It’s lovely here - there’s so many different things going on.
“Every day there’s people popping in and everyone is welcome.
“It’s lovely to work here and Chrissie [Williams, centre manager] is fantastic to work for - you couldn’t ask for a better boss.
“We’ve got around 25 volunteers here and without them the place would not run - we really rely on their help.”
A Macmillan coffee morning and auction was held last month and the centre raised more than £500.
Many of the local shops donated to the auction, and Suzanne thanked Golden Fish Bar, Rebecca’s Hair and Beauty, Kebab and Pizza House, the Queenborough Co-op and the chemist.
- For the full STG On Tour feature including pictures from Queenborough and Rushenden, see next week's Times Guardian