THE charity which took over the former Werneth Grange convent to transform the historic building into a community centre and youth hub is celebrating a £28,120 funding boost.

St Mark Universal Care was founded by the Christian Anglo-Coptic community and has received the cash from SUEZ Communities Trust for playground equipment.

The cash will assist the redevelopment of its base at Werneth Grange and gardens and will allow for the installation of a play area for young people.

Ashley Williams, the fundraising and development manager at St Mark Universal Care said: “This funding will allow for the creation of a wonderful playground for the young people of this community.

"Our regeneration project at Werneth Grange is focused on bringing this wonderful heritage property into use by the community and we are very grateful to SUEZ Communities Trust for their belief in and support of our plans.”

Marek Gordon, chairman of SUEZ Communities Trust added: “SUEZ Communities Trust provides funding awards through the Landfill Communities Fund. We were delighted to be able to offer funding to St. Mark Universal Care.”

St Mark Universal Care was founded in 2014 and works in the UK and abroad to bring much needed services and care to areas of need, be that medical care in disadvantaged parts of the Middle East and North Africa, medical equipment needed by those caring for Syrian refugees; or in the UK, provision of spaces and services for the community at our new project, Werneth Grange.

SUEZ Communities Trust is an independent funding body set up in 1997 to provide funding through the Landfill Communities Fund and Scottish Landfill Communities Fund. It supports projects using tax credits donated by SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK. Its funds improve public recreation facilities such as village halls, community centres, sport, heritage, green spaces and play areas.