The effects of the current pandemic on the local community have been the main focus of Caterham Rotary’s attention during the last 8 months. Financial support has been given to The Caterham Foodbank, The Salvation Army and the Westway Hub to support needy individuals and families in the CR3 and CR6 post codes.

Recently their attention was drawn to one of the key after school activities based in Caterham and their need for help. Skaterham, based in The Village Caterham on the Hill, is a highly popular indoor Skatepark. They opened 21 years ago in what was originally the Guards Chapel and during that time more than 40,000 young people have become members and active membership today currently stands in excess of 5000 with many of their original young members returning as parents with their own children.

Darren Barnes manager of Skaterham said ” we have been closed for 6 months of 2020 so we are very grateful to Caterham Rotary for supporting us during this challenging time. Funding will help support our project moving forward and adapting to a new way of operating brought about by COVID-19.”

He continued “The lockdown has enabled us to refreshen our building with countless hours of voluntary work and we have used the time to improve so that we can become more inclusive to adults in the community too by offering group exercise classes. Our future is very bright with partners like Caterham Rotary and their support for the work we do”

Anji Flower, who is the Caterham Rotary Youth Service Chair, commented “We are pleased to have been able to help Skaterham by funding a number of improvements that they needed, and which had been brought about by the effects of the pandemic.