VOLUNTEERS have secured National Lottery funding for the second time so they can place a new manager at the helm of the community centre they fought so hard to get.

Residents living on the Jubilee Estate in Shildon campaigned and fundraised for years to build their own centre.

Now, almost two years after the Jubilee Fields Centre was built, the volunteers have secured enough money to have a full-time centre manager.

Gill Adams has taken on the challenge of nurturing their dream after the centre was awarded £104,171 from the Community Fund.

Treasurer Elizabeth Carr said that everybody was thrilled to get the funding which will pay for the centre manager post for three years.

She said: "For a group of volunteers to get two lots of funding from the Community Fund is quiet an achievement.

"Everybody has worked so hard for this, not just me. It was the vision of Elsie Race and the residents pulled together to get it.

"But we have taken it as far as we can for a group of volunteers. It has far exceeded our expectations and we need a professional to take it forward which is why Gill is ideal for the job."

Gill, 48, has been in the post for a week and is looking forward to making sure the centre continues to thrive.

She said: "Everybody is so passionate about this centre. I feel like there is a huge responsibility on my part to nurture this baby for them. I know that I can do this well.''

Funding has also been made available for an admini-strator, caretaker, cleaner and cook and Gill is keen to point out that this has made a solid foundation for team work.

She said: "The running of this centre is going to be a real team effort to enhance what has already gone on so far.

"We now employ Clare Colville, who is the administrator, Stuart Fieldson who is caretaker, Mary Hodgson, who is the cook and Shirley Bowes who is the cleaner.

"It is a really busy centre but at the moment we do not have enough staff hours to carry out all the work but once that is sorted out the sky is the limit.''