Work began on re-slating the roof of the Parish Centre in August. This was almost 10 years since a group of volunteers started work on the restoration and refurbishment of our fine Victorian building. At that time there was only £500 in the kitty. 
Much has been done in these 10 years: New drains, a new toilet block, dry rot eradicated, new Windows installed, new heating system, upgrading some of the lighting and re-painting and decorating throughout the building by volunteers. All of this has cost £220,000. This has been raised through donations, fundraising events, and grants of £20,000. Our expenditure was carefully managed.
The estimate for the full roof re-slating was £100,000. This included £12,000 for contingencies such as replacing roof timbers and damaged slates.
We are delighted to report that we have received several grants, of approx £40,000. They were from:
Garfield Weston Foundation. £ 7,000
Cumbria Community Foundation. £ 6,500
Cumbria County Council Community Grant. £1,000
Cumbria County Council Eden Community Fund. £8,000
Hatfield Trust. £3,000
Cumbria Waste Management Environment Trust. £15,000
Penrith Town Council. £2,000
We were very fortunate to receive a generous gift of £30,000 from one of the Parish Centre’s long time supporters. The final piece of the funding jigsaw was supplies by a loan, over 4 years, of £30,000 from the Key Fund.
The Directors decide to proceed with the installation of solar panels to reduce future fuel costs and reduce our carbon footprint. The cost of this was to come from savings.
Once the roof is renewed the building will be secure for the next 100 years providing regular maintenance is carried out. This of course this will be financed out of room hire charges as there will be no reserves to call on from by our small Community Charity.
