After 14 months and over £700,000 - worth of a major refurbishment, the Maryport Educational Settlement building formally reopens on Monday (21 April), with a public open day on Saturday (19 April).
The funding for the refurbishment has come from the Learning and Skills Council Capital Challenge Fund, the European Regional Development Fund (ERD), and West Lakes Renaissance via the North West Development Agency.
The Grade II listed building, on High Road in Maryport, has been refurbished to turn it into a modern community, arts and learning centre, but its historic character has been sensitively retained in the refurbishment process.
There are training and activity rooms, plus an IT suite on the ground floor, with office accommodation for adult education staff, and other partner organisations on the first floor. There is also a purpose built arts annexe, which can host a range of arts and crafts activities.
The building has a long and distinguished role in the town's history.
It began life as a private home before being taken on by the Society of Friends (Quakers) as an educational settlement in response to the Depression of the 1930s.
From then, the building continued to provide educational courses for the people of Maryport up until the end of the 20th Century, when it finally closed due to problems with health and safety, and access.
It was then sold by the Society of Friends to new trustees - the Maryport Educational Settlement Trustees -who, along with the county council’s Adult Education Service, returned it to its mission of providing educational and arts activities for the town and surrounding area.
The formal opening will be carried out by Emer Clarke, the new Executive Director of Cumbria’s Learning and Skills Council (LSC).
The project is part of the broader process of regenerating the town of Maryport. The Settlement has an imposing position overlooking the town’s harbour, which has received considerable capital investment to help turn around its economic fortunes. A new look Settlement will contribute significantly to this process.
The opening of the building on 21 April will follow an open day for the public to come and see what the new building has to offer. This will be between 11.30am and 2pm. There will be a range of activities on offer, including arts workshops for children, and a sponsored balloon race.
The formal opening on 21 April will give funders and partner organisations the opportunity to celebrate the restoration of the building, and a chance to see all its new facilities.
Councillor Jim Buchanan is the county council's cabinet member for education. He said:
"The aim of our adult education services is to strengthen and sustain the people and communities through the power of learning.
"The Maryport Settlement has a long and proud tradition of providing education for people of all ages over the years, and so I am delighted that we have been able to partner up with the news trustees to return it to its former glories.
"At the same time, we have updated the facilities so that it can carry on into this new century as a community learning and arts centre."
Jane Donaldson is Maryport Settlement's Arts and Learning and Centre Manager. She said:
"It's been a very busy and challenging year for the Settlement trustees. We are all delighted that the building is finally open and we are already seeing exciting and innovative projects, events and courses being planned for the coming year."
Nick Hardy is the Economic Inclusion Manager for West Lakes Renaissance. He said:
"We are delighted to have helped bring the Settlement back into use as a modern learning centre that will benefit people of all ages. We are now looking forward to seeing the positive benefits of increasing the quantity, quality and range of training and learning opportunities in Maryport and the surrounding area.
"Alongside our wide-ranging work to improve the marina, the quality of hotels in the town, and create opportunities for news and existing businesses to locate to the BIP factory site, West Lakes is truly establishing Maryport as a great place to live, learn, work, relax and visit."
End
Further information from Alison Lister, Media Officer, on (01228) 606335. Maryport Education Setting at 12 noon when Emer Clarke, Executive Director of the LSC will be presented with a framed photograph of the new building. Charles Searle, Senior Education Officer for Adult Learning, and Jane Donaldson from the Maryport Educational Settlement Trust will be at the re-opening, along with some people who have previously used the building and will be able to give their views on the new £776,000 development
Photos of the refurbished building can be found at: http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/childrensservices/adulteducation/whatsnew.asp
Notes
Cumbria Adult Education Services (CAES) is a part of Cumbria County Council.
Through its adult education and community development centres, along with partner organisations, CAES delivers a wide range of learning opportunities at all levels in all parts of the county.
These include:
ICT
ports and leisure
arts and crafts
languages
humanities
skills for life (including English for speakers of other languages) vocational NVQs family learning
For further information go to http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/childrensservices/adulteducation/
For more information on West Lakes Renaissance visit http://www.westlakesrenaissance.co.uk/ (external link). West Lakes Renaissance is supported by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), which leads the economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest and is responsible for: Supporting business growth and encouraging investment; Matching skills provision to employer needs; Creating the conditions for economic growth; Connecting the region through effective transport and communication infrastructure; Promoting the region’s outstanding quality of life. http://www.nwda.co.uk/ (external link)