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Austerfield Study Centre hosts Christmas fair on 6th December

Austerfield Study Centre (ASCL) is holding a Christmas fair to raise much needed funds to supoprt its ongoing work in education and community support services for families. For more than 40 years the Centre has provided environmental awareness day trips for schools, and residential visits for Scout & Guide groups as well as pupils from some of the most deprived areas in the borough.

The fair is to celebrate the opening of the newly renovated hall at the Old Primary School in Austerfield. The hall has been recently refurbished, providing a community building suitable for a wide range of additional activities to be organised for the local community.

The Christmas fair will be held on 6 December from 1-4pm and there will be something for all the family such as the Harworth brass band, craft and gift stalls, delicious local deli goods, fresh Christmas wreaths, raffles and competitions and of course a variety of festive food!

This milestone is a far cry from 18 months ago when the centre faced the real threat of closure due to local authority cutbacks. However, through the vision of volunteer Sue Rose who succeeded in galvanising support of the local authority, Doncaster community and local businesses ASCL is now a not for profit social enterprise with the hope of a more sustainable future.

Sue Rose, volunteer director, at ASCL, said: “We’re thrilled and proud to be hosting a Christmas fair after a challenging, but ultimately successful and rewarding year and hope people will come along to celebrate and enjoy the festivities with us. The support from SARIA, Bawtry Carbon International and other companies has been so helpful and has enabled us to remain open. But the ongoing running of the facility means we are always looking for additional volunteers and sponsors and the fair is an ideal way to showcase the good work the ASCL does.”

The volunteer team have many ideas to improve other old facilities on the site such as adding new dormitories to help create an even better learning environment. The team is currently considering different funding methods to really get the site on the map for Doncaster and South Yorkshire.

Philip Simpson, commercial director at SARIA, formerly PDM, based in Doncaster said: “As a sustainable business that turns waste into new products, SARIA understands the important lessons that nature has to offer and the Austerfield Study Centre is a great way for schoolchildren to explore this. The centre is an important asset to families in Doncaster in many ways and we are delighted to support the cause and efforts that have helped to secure a longer-term future.”

Businesses and individuals interested in supporting the centre or enquiring about hiring the facilities should contact the centre on 01302 710415 or info@austerfieldstudycentre.co.uk

Help save Austerfield Centre, help save a generation.