Dawdon Community Centre gets Give Inn Back funds from The Seaton Lane Inn

A community hub in Seaham has been provided with a welcome early Christmas present through The Inn Collection Group, with a £1000 donation from The Seaton Lane Inn via the company’s Give Inn Back initiative.

Established in May 2001 and a registered charity, Dawdon Youth and Community Centre serves the local community by offering high-quality, free (or low-cost) services and activities that improve people’s quality of life.

Led by centre manager Marion McKenna and youth manager Joanne Bowen, the centre is open 79+ hours over 7 days, providing a welcoming place for 450+ individuals and groups, local residents of all ages, children and young people to meet each week.

Dawdon Youth and Community Centre provide a wide range of services for the inclusion of all and works with an open-door policy, to encourage those faced with disadvantage to participate fully and be active within the community. 

The centre operates as a community building to provide a comforting environment to those who need it and also runs and hosts regular activities including karate classes, a community dance project, and a support group for young mums.

The centre also hosts The Youth Hub, an inclusive children and young people’s youth project which prides itself on providing interesting, engaging youth-led activities consisting of arts, crafts, sports, active play and day trips away.

Currently running a Christmas gift drive to provide presents to children in need in the local area, the centre will retain the Give Inn Back donation from The Seaton Lane Inn to use early into 2024.

Making the donation on behalf of The Seaton Lane Inn, Ruth Blakey said: “The Dawdon Youth and Community Centre is a highly thought of feature of the community in Seaham and was a popular choice within the team to receive funds from the Give Inn Back fund this year.

“They provide a wide range of support and activities that really help people, be that by being a place to meet, through appeals like the food back and the Christmas present drive or through the clubs and activities that use it as a base.

“We know from speaking with Marion that the fund is going to make a positive contribution to the centre and its work, which is what the Give Inn Back fund is all about, so we’re pleased to have given that support.

Marion McKenna, centre manager added: “We are so grateful to the team at The Seaton Lane Inn for choosing to donate some of their Give Inn Back fund to us. It is very welcome and will help us in the New Year to provide support to people in our community.

“The support from the likes of The Seaton Lane Inn and The Inn Collection Group is crucial in allowing us to be here for the people in the community who need us, our facilities and our support and I like to thank Ruth, Tracey and the team at the inn for thinking of us.”