The first step of the imminent start to the building work for the new Shiloh began recently when Rotherham Mayor, Lyndsay Pitchley arrived at the Old Weighbridge ready to start knocking down the wall to create the serving hatch between kitchen and dining room.
Madam Mayor, Lyndsay Pitchley ‘hits the first brick’ to create the servicing hatch with Shiloh’s Manager, John McDonnell providing a little support
Shiloh trustees are making arrangements with Rotherham Council to take over the old council weighbridge at Station Road, Masbrough as the organisation has outgrown their current Westgate facilities with the lease due to expire. The Council, in partnership with its main repairs and maintenance contractors, Willmott Dixon and Mears are now finalising the delivery plan for a full modernised refurbishment programme of the weighbridge, which will enable Shiloh and its partners to expand on a range of essential services they deliver to Shiloh’s guests (clients) now, and for many years to come.
The old Weighbridge when converted will make an excellent facility for Shiloh’s current needs and those well into the future says Shiloh’s John McDonnell.
The Mayor Lyndsay Pitchley, Judy Dalton (Shiloh trustee) and John McDonnell flanked by representatives from the Council, Willmott Dixon, Mears, John Box Associates, Rotary club, the Probation Service and Shiloh trustees
The building project is also being supported by John Box Associates who offered their professional services at no charge and designed the conversion and got the plans passed and through building control. This was a huge undertaking with great results.
John Goodyear and Company Ltd has also come on board to ensure the whole building process proceeds safely and efficiently.
If that wasn’t enough the Probation service also offered their help and has already started the makeover, changing the appearance of an old dilapidated 1960’s building to giving it a bright and modern look inside and out – big job!
So with the delivery plan almost complete, the day as come to ‘hit the first brick’ and our Mayor was more than pleased to initiate the start of the major undertaking.
The mayor described the work that Shiloh did as “fantastic” and the support it has received from all parties involved as “a credit to everyone here”, “this is when I feel really proud of Rotherham, when everyone is doing what it can to help people who are in need and vulnerable” she added.
John McDonnell the Services Development manager at Shiloh recalls how the move into the current building enabled Shiloh to increase and develop the services offered to it guests (clients). Seeing our guests progress and become self-reliant, with some starting to volunteer and others getting employment, is so rewarding. However we soon realised we needed more rooms for mentoring, classes, activities and hairdressing etc. We will be able to do all that and much more in the new Shiloh.
The Mayor is captivated as John explains some of the benefits that the new building will provide for Shiloh guests, with the building plans and artist impressions in the background.
We recently had a funding campaign to purchase a new kitchen for the new Shiloh, this was a tremendous success and the new kitchen will be installed shortly. A big thanks to all you generous folks who donated.
We are still needing some help to pay for a shower room, and also for the floor coverings we will need for the large dining room and kitchen, so if you can support us again please get in touch.
Have you some spare time? Have you thought about volunteering? We have just started a recruitment campaign as we will need more volunteers in the coming months, including good listeners, problem solvers, admin and of course in the kitchen preparing hearty meals. If you’d like to be involved and play a part in helping people progress out of a difficult period in their life, then Shiloh is just the place to do it.