A COMMUNITY centre has installed a new hearing loop after receiving a grant.

Belmont Community Centre, in Durham City, provides a regular meeting place for around 35 local groups, many of which have either older members or people with hearing difficulties.

The self-funded centre was awarded a £2,348 donation from the Banks Community Fund, set up by Durham-based company The Banks Group, to install a hearing loop to ensure everyone is able to hear what is happening at their events.

New disabled bathroom facilities and an entrance ramp have been added in the last couple of years.

Belmont Community Association committee member Mick Bennett said: "Several groups including people with disabilities or special needs have raised the need for a hearing loop with us, but as with any capital project like this, finding the money to make it happen was a challenge.

"The generous support we've had from the Banks Community Fund has enabled us to get this project completed far more quickly than would otherwise be the case. “There are many more groups in the city that could make use of the hearing loop and other facilities we've put in place recently, and we're hoping that we'll see increasing numbers of them coming to look what we offer."

Mark Dowdall, environment and community director at Banks Group, said: “The centre is a thriving resource that is run for the benefit of the whole community, and as a local business, we're very pleased to be backing the association's work in making it as accessible as possible for everyone."

Anyone interested in applying for funding from the Banks Community Fund should contact James Eaglesham on 0191-378-6342.