Cash Grants to Improve Residential Areas

Tree of Life Centre, Wythenshawe

Grant of £10,000 to refurbish the centre's kitchen with up-to-date facilities to meet Health and Safety standards.

The much used Tree of Life Centre in Wythenshawe, South Manchester provides services caring for the health and well-being of local residents. Located in the heart of Woodhouse Park, the Centre's staff and local volunteers work to improve the physical, emotional, financial and mental lives of the whole community.

In order to maintain the good work and continue with their ambitious development plans, the centre thought it was time the kitchen had a much-needed facelift. It was essential that the new kitchen met Health and Safety standards to make it safe and secure for staff, volunteers and visitors alike.

The total cost of the project was over £35,000 and that's where Cash grants came in - contributing £10,000 towards the total and getting the Centre's fundraising off to a flying start.

The success of this project allows the centre to not only continue providing much needed services to the community but also to: develop the community café so that local residents can get a healthy meal; provide lunch for the volunteers; create a training kitchen; provide courses such as healthy eating and cooking on a budget and allows the many groups who use the centre to make use of the kitchen.

There was, however, one unexpected problem. When the industrial cooker was installed it was discovered that the existing extractor system wasn't up to the job. This created an unexpected cost and delay to the project. Janet Tysoe, centre manager said "Anyone planning a scheme of this nature should check with the manufacturer for any additional requirements".

The project is now complete and the Centre is the proud owner of a brand new kitchen.

Janet also recommended that all staff using the kitchen should be trained in basic hygiene. "This means they can work safely in the kitchen and provides a valuable qualification too!"