Charity opens doors after vandals damage building

Matthew Badman said "we can actually basically cook our own food"

A charity supporting adults with disabilities has opened its fully accessible hub after the project was damaged by thieves.

Paul's Place opened the former Shire Way Community Centre in Yate, South Gloucestershire, in late August following a major refurbishment.

The charity acquired the site last May, but just two months later the project faced a setback when thieves stole lead from the roof, causing part of the roof and ceiling to collapse.

Paul's Place diverted funds intended for new equipment and facilities to repair the roof, and launched an emergency fundraising appeal to plug the gap.

Lynda Williams, chief executive of Paul's Place, said: "It's very hard to go back and visualise what it was like now because we've been working on the refurbishment for six or seven months."

The changes include the transformation of the community centre's former skittle alley into a physiotherapy room and an arts and crafts room.

She added: "We've got all new ceilings, all new walls. We've got a complete reconfiguration of one area of the building.

"It's completely adaptable, fully accessible for a multitude of uses and specifically towards adults who have a disability of some description."

The project cost an estimated £1.5m.

"This is essentially a one-off centre in the South West," Ms Williams said.

The ceilings were torn down inside the community centre

Matthew Badman said he was particularly impressed with the accessible equipment in the kitchen.

"It's incredible. We've got equipment that can actually go to our height, we can grab stuff, we can actually basically cook our own food," he said.

Frustratingly, the area of the building damaged by the lead theft was the only part that had not needed any structural repairs.

As well as the fundraising appeal, Paul's Place relied on the generosity of local tradespeople to carry out the works at a reduced rate.

Service user Sue Mylkins said: "To the (donors) I'd say thank you, they have done a marvelous job."

Ms Mylkins said: "No matter what your disability is, you can be welcomed and everything is just suited for disabled people.

"It's all accessible for wheelchairs - the whole place is unbelievable. The staff have done wonders."