A Hatfield community centre has received £20,000 in support of renovations and improvements to the youth centre.
St John’s Youth and Community Centre received the donation from Lovell Partnerships, the regeneration specialists behind the mixed-use development in Hatfield Rise.
The community centre is recognised as an important local facility that hosts community groups and children’s activities such as the Brownies.
The treasurer at St John’s Youth and Community Centre, Sheila Archer, received a cheque from Lovell community engagement manager, Alexandra Robins, with Barbara Fitzsimon, Mayor of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and Ka Ng, chief executive of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council in attendance.
Lawrence Archer, Lovell's development manager, said: “As a leading regeneration company, Lovell has community interest at heart and always looks to improve areas within which we work for existing and future residents.
"We are pleased to support existing facilities, such as St John’s Youth and Community Centre, to complement the regeneration of the area that we are achieving through our development works. The centre does great work and we hope our contribution will support this to continue long term.” 
Revd. Andy Gardner, from the St John’s Youth and Community Centre, added: “The grant will enable us to carry out some much-needed improvements to the facilities of St John’s Youth and Community Centre, in several important areas. For example, we aim to increase the number of car parking spaces whilst also re-levelling the pathways and installing better external lighting. 
“This is all to give easier access for elderly and disabled persons as well as users with prams and pushchairs for young children. The grant will also enable some urgent repairs and upgrades to the entrance lobby and internal doors which will enable us to better serve and welcome the many local groups from the south Hatfield area that use the centre.”
In partnership with the Wewlyn Hatfield Borough Council, Lovell is currently delivering the first two phases of the regeneration development project.
The first phase of 72 homes includes 37 affordable homes for Home Group, 24 two-bedroom apartments and 11 homes for private sale and 12 retail units.
In total, Hatfield Rise will deliver 146 quality new homes including 37 affordable, 18 retail units, and a new play space and public realm at the heart of the scheme.
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