The donation was provided as a result of Esh’s work in the area with Thirteen.
St Alphonsus Church Hall was left with no heating or hot water when the boiler broke beyond repair in autumn, putting community groups at risk of cancellation during the freezing winter months.
Esh Construction pledged to fund the full heating replacement as part of its commitment to supporting the local community while working with Thirteen Group on a refurbishment scheme in Middlesbrough. The donation will ensure the community can continue to access the services provided by St Alphonsus Church Hall during the months where social isolation is at its peak.
Esh’s Construction Director, Colin Ford, said: “Giving back to the local community is at the core of Esh’s values and we’re passionate about leaving a legacy in the areas of our construction projects. Through our strong working relationship with Thirteen, St Alphonsus Church Hall was identified as requiring support and we are delighted to provide this donation, enabling the hall to continue its services throughout the winter and beyond.”
The church is part of the Diocese of Middlesbrough and its hall is regularly used by Friends of St Alphonsus for a variety of activities as well community-based groups such as North Ormesby Scout Group, Cleveland Concert Band, an Irish Dancing School and three different faith groups.
Canon Stephen Maughan, the new Parish Priest at St Alphonsus, said: “I am still very new to North Ormesby, but it became clear to me very quickly what an important role the hall plays in the local community. The boiler breaking down was a real blow but thanks to our friends at Esh and Thirteen, it has been replaced. Just this weekend we were able to host a charity Santa’s Grotto for local families, for example. I am very grateful, on behalf of the whole parish, for their help and generosity.”
The donation has been provided as result of the Rivers House project where Esh Construction is re-developing Thirteen’s former housing office into 18 supported housing apartments.
Thirteen’s Neighbourhood Development Manager, Lyndsey Coe, added: “We’re thrilled that Esh Construction’s commitment to supporting the local community has led to this much-needed donation to replace the heating system at St. Alphonsus Church hall. It will ensure that community-based groups of different faiths will benefit and leave a lasting legacy on the area. “It’s also a fantastic example of how Thirteen’s ongoing regeneration and community resilience work in North Ormesby led to us being able to link Esh Construction with a local asset that plays such an important role in the community.”
