Worksop: A rose for our community volunteers

Police Community Support Officer Ryan Bowskill presented the Guardian Rose to community centre volunteers Carolyn and Glenn Gillgrass

Glenn and Carolyn Gillgrass were surprised with the rose at the Online Youth and Community Centre, on Plantation Hill, by PCSO Ryan Bowskill.

The couple have been helping out at the centre in Kilton since Ryan began on the project to turn the former New Life Church into a community facility.

Ryan said: “Glenn and Carolyn have gone above and beyond.”

“The table tennis is up and running on a Monday thanks to Glen.”

“No matter when I ring them up and ask then to unlock the building they always help.”

As well as the table tennis group and youth club, a skatepark is currently being constructed in the centre’s grounds and flower beds and vegetable patches are being planted.

Community groups are expressing an interest in using the building and police cadets will also start using the centre as their base from September.

Carolyn and Glenn got involved in the centre when they read an appeal by Ryan for help in the Worksop Guardian.

The couple were reluctant to take all the credit.

Glenn said: “It’s not just us that help. This is for everyone.”

Carolyn said: “We volunteer through the day for REAL Education.

“We’re trying to support Ryan and get everything developed.”

“The aim is to have the centre used on a daily basis with different groups in the evening.”

The other organisations and individuals thanked for their hard work in setting up and maintaining the centre are REAL Education and all its staff, The Elks Education Trust, Jerry Collins, Kat Betts, Vicky Leech, Neil Hooton and Willmotts.

l Anyone wishing to volunteer at the centre or find out more about what it has to offer to the community, should visit its Facebook page or follow @Online_Centre on Twitter.