£8,000 UK Steel cash has saved community centre in Riddings from closure

A community help and advice centre in Scunthorpe has been saved from closure after receiving funding from UK Steel Enterprise.

The Riddings Action Group (RAG) Drop-In Centre faced having to close its doors due to a lack of funding needed to pay next year's rent.

But the group has now secured an £8,000 donation from the Tata Steel subsidiary, meaning the Willoughby Road centre can remain open for another year.

The centre helps residents in the Riddings area of Scunthorpe to gain employment and training and is used by around 1,500 people every month.

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It also provides welfare advice, self-development courses and volunteering opportunities, as well as a community café.

Jean Marshall, chairman of RAG, said: "This funding will allow us to continue to operate from our current premises allowing us to carry on supporting our local community members who really need our help.

"The drop-in centre is at the heart of this community and provides employment, training and a place to come together.

"I'm delighted that we have secured our tenancy for another year and cannot thank UK Steel enough for helping us in our hour of need."

UK Steel Enterprise has joined forces with the Scunthorpe Telegraph as part of the Your Life, Your Future campaign to support local businesses and boost the local economy.

The funding for RAG comes from the organisation's communities fund, which helps groups making a significant economic difference in steel production areas.

It also provides business finance in amounts from £25,000 to £750,000 and offers low- interest loans to growing firms throughout North Lincolnshire through its Kickstart fund.

Keith Williams, regional manager for UK Steel Enterprise, said the decision to support RAG was based on the centre's social impact on the surrounding community.

He said: "The RAG centre plays a very important role in supporting local people in this part of Scunthorpe, providing significant benefit to the local community in a variety of ways.

"One of our aims in supporting it is to help people move into employment or take up training and volunteering opportunities, so they can then play an active role in supporting the local economy."

Community-based groups or organisations which help boost local employment, social or economic regeneration can apply for support from UK Steel Enterprise's Community Fund.

For more information, call 0800 9151188.