HAVENSTREET Community Association will ‘raise the roof’  — thanks to the County Press.
The group was awarded £5,000 by the Gannett Foundation, the charitable arm of the Gannett company, which owns County Press publisher Newsquest.
In addition to the grant, the association, run entirely by a volunteers as a charity, has held a series of fundraisers for a new roof at its Main Road community centre.
Association chair Lynne Broom said it was a vital village resource — used for meetings, functions, fundraisers and social events, home to a monthly market run by the church and a lunch club for older residents.
Pointing out Havenstreet had lost most of its amenities over the years, including the school, shop, post office and bus service, Lynne said: “As a consequence, many residents, particularly the elderly, feel isolated, so it’s essential to retain a local centre for social and recreational purposes.”
In the past ten years, the Gannett Foundation has awarded almost £4 million worth of grants to UK projects that benefit local communities.
Alan Marriott, publisher and editor of the County Press, said: “The £5,000 cheque will help Havenstreet Community Association to protect this vital part of the community infrastructure.
“Nationally, the Gannett Foundation gave around £300,000 to all sorts of good causes this year. On the Island, around 20 causes applied for a grant, and many were unlucky not to be selected this time.”