Healey Dell rescuers appeal for charity support

The plastering students learning their new trade under the supervision of Mike Tattersall from home to work plastering school as we partner with Hopwood Hall College

The saviours of Healey Dell’s visitors’ centre are appealing for volunteers and sponsors as they prepare for the reopening of the iconic building.

Janice Percy and Philip Barrett, co-founders of the Association of Dance and Performing Arts charity, rescued the building from closure in December.

Refurbishment work is now under way ahead of an Easter opening as the “Healey Dell Heritage Centre & Tea Rooms” and Janice urged anyone who can help support them to do so.

“We are desperate for funding,” she said.

“When we knew that the building was about to lose of all its visitors’ facilities and heritage, we had two options.

“We could wait for funding and leave it at the mercy of potential vandals and decay, or take the bull by the horns - and that is what we have done.”

She added: “In other words, if this ambitious project was ever to succeed, we simply had to go for it and not hang around waiting for grants that may never materialise!”

Having taken control of the building, the charity, which will move to the centre when it opens, now needs £18,500 and is keen to hear from businesses interested in mutually beneficial deals.

They are also on the look out for people to sponsor chairs and tables and have launched an appeal for bone china.

“Most people over a certain age inherit bone china,” Janice explained.

“They carefully wrap it in newspaper whenever they move house, and they keep it for best but never use it.

“We are asking for people to donate it so we can use it in the tea room - we will be serving cream teas there.”

Janice added they were also hoping for volunteers to come forward to work in the new vintage-themed tea room and also as fundraisers, artists, project co-ordinators and writers.

“We have had some great people come forward,” she said. “But we still need more, particularly in the tea room - that would be fantastic.”

When complete, the Healey Dell Heritage Centre will provide exhibition space for local artists and photographers, an all-year-round local heritage/nature exhibition and a fairy grotto.

There will also be free wi-fi for visitors, room hire with space for local groups and organisations and local enterprise gifts and souvenirs.

The heritage centre is currently being refurbished by students from Hopwood Hall College with their tutors.

Pupils involved in the current plastering work - due to last three weeks - will earn a City & Guilds qualification for their efforts, as will those who come in for decorating next month.

Janice explained such work fitted with ADPA’s aim of improving future employability for young people.

“Our mission has always been to improve the prospects of those who need their prospects improving,” she said.

“This could be through a project perhaps, which would help them to get a job.

“This building gave us so many options to do that - the fact students volunteering at the moment can earn qualifications is fantastic.

“Those working in the tea room will be put through basic training too, so right from the start it is something to put on their CV and it’s good for increasing prospects.

“We have so much planned for this building - it has the potential to be of real benefit to the local community.”

Anybody who wishes to support the charity and the centre, or are keen to get involved, should visit www.healeydellheritagecentre.org.uk or www.adpa.org.uk for more information.