The Hearth is cooking up a storm thanks to a generous donation

The Hearth Centre in Horsley Village is really cooking on gas thanks to the help of Karbon Homes. Thanks to a partnership between Karbon and kitchen design and supply specialists, Magnet, The Hearth has been gifted a brand-new kitchen for the centre’s main community area, alongside a £1,000 community grant from Karbon to help with installation costs and new appliances.

Enjoying the new kitchen with a cup of tea and cake - from left to right, Denise Singleton from Karbon Homes, Natalie Henderson and Tony Glover, Trustees for The Hearth, Martin Evans, Project Design Manager for Magnet Contract Kitchen Solutions and Jane Gibson, Chair of the Board of Trustees at The Hearth

The donation came as a result of Karbon Homes’ Unlocking Social Value programme, which matches the social value commitments of Karbon’s contractors and suppliers with organisations across the region.

Trustees at The Hearth, Pam Hornor and Natalie Henderson told us:

“We initially approached Karbon about a small grant to help get some of the work done and when they told us that Magnet were happy to provide a new kitchen for free, leaving the small grant award from them to help cover fitting costs and some new equipment, we were totally delighted.

“We are so grateful for the generous support. Our original 19th century Village Hall is now looking wonderful and perfect for visitors to return to our community events this summer. We couldn’t be more grateful for Karbon’s involvement.”

Outside The Hearth Arts centre – left to right, Tony Glover and Natalie Henderson, Trustees for The Hearth, Denise Singleton from Karbon Homes, Jane Gibson, Chair of the Board of Trustees at The Hearth and Martin Evans, Project Design Manager for Magnet Contract Kitchen Solutions

The centre, based in the rural village of Horsley in West Northumberland, offers educational, arts, music and recreational activities for members from the local community and those from surrounding villages such as Prudhoe and West Wylam, providing a hub for residents of all ages to come together and socialise.

The main community hall at the centre is used by several groups and plays host to a range of free community events/arts/children’s activities. Find out more about booking the hall for events and courses.

A lovely new Magnet kitchen for the hall in THe Hearth Arts Centre

Denise Singleton, Karbon’s Community Connector for the West Northumberland area said:

“Local community organisations like The Hearth play such an important role in rural communities, championing community spirit and providing a place for local residents to come together.”

“It’s been a tough year for local initiatives like The Hearth, which have had no income due to being unable to open through the pandemic. We’re so pleased we’ve been able to help them to get this important work done, which will help make the centre a fantastic place for residents to return to, when the need for its presence is more important than ever.”

Our Unlocking Social Value programme is one of the many ways we shap strong, sustainable places for our communities. However big or small, the commitments our contractors and suppliers make through the programme make a huge difference in the places that we work and to the lives of those who live there.

The new Magnet kitchen with painting by resident artist Cathy Duncan

Paul Bagguley, Senior Project Design Manager for Magnet Contract Kitchen Solutions, said:

“We were delighted to offer our help to such a fantastic cause. The kitchen is the heart of the home and The Hearth is certainly the heart of the community. Their community centre is such a welcoming place and hopefully they will receive many happy years of service from the new kitchen.”

To find out more about our Unlocking Social Value programme, or to find out if your community project could benefit from support from Karbon, contact mycommunity@karbonhomes.co.uk