Community Facility Moves Closer to Opening Cafe Following Kitchen Refurb

A Wrexham community centre has moved one step closer to opening up their own cafe following the successful refurbishment of their kitchen. 

The Venture project kitchen in Caia Park received its long awaited makeover from Novus Property Solutions, a contractor which has recently installed new kitchens and bathrooms in hundreds of Council properties around the Caia area. Novus Property Solutions donated the work to the Venture free of charge as a Community Benefit scheme.

The kitchen received brand new worktops and tiling as part of the makeover and the facilities will now allow food to be prepared there at the required hygiene standard.

Speaking about the refurbishment, The Venture’s Early Years Centre Manager, Karen Davies, said: “This is a really positive start to the new year. Novus have done a great job refurbishing the kitchen and it now means we can move forward with our plans to open a café at the centre. This will benefit not only the centre itself but the local community and I’d like to thank the staff from Novus for all their hard work.

Novus Property Solutions Planned Works Manager, Jeremy Anderson, added:  “As a business, we’re committed to having a positive impact on the communities in which we operate. Our Changing Lives campaign has positively impacted the lives of more than 10,000 people since it was launched at the start of 2015, with this project in Caia Park further evidence of our commitment.”

All contractors carrying our housing improvement work for Wrexham Council are now required to contribute back to the local economy through Community Benefit schemes. As well as community centre refurb work, the schemes can also include taking on local labour, modern apprentices, and purchasing supplies from local businesses.

Lead Member for Housing, Cllr Ian Roberts, said, “We are investing a record £54m into housing improvement work over the next 12 months and it is vital that as much of this as possible can be pumped back into the local economy through Community Benefit schemes. We’ve already seen many successful schemes over the last year and it’s good to see jobs and training placements have also received a boost from contractors working locally.”

More information on Community Benefit schemes and the improvement work being carried out to achieve the Welsh Housing Quality Standard can be found on the Council’s website: www.wrexham.gov.uk/whqs