Trust team helping out at medieval monastery
MORE than 60 Halton Housing Trust volunteers endured wind and rain last week to complete renovation work at Norton Priory in Runcorn.
The homes group team descended on the medieval tourist magnet to clean ruins, paint fences, edge pathways and dig and move more than 10 tons of gravel as part of a year-long programme of support. Norton Priory is one of the trust’s chosen charity for 2016-17 and staff have also raised £140 for Europe’s most excavated monastic site by baking and selling cakes.
The trust has been working closely with the priory in the run up to the museum opening, and has already provided wood for bird and bug boxes, as well as cones and fencing for events.
Staff will provide additional support to the priory throughout the year, with plans including joinery work to replace building shutters, lime washing the eco building, replacing the fire escape and resurfacing the overflow car park.
John Budworth, Norton Priory head gardener, said: “Nor- ton Priory was delighted that Halton Housing Trust chose us as their nominated charity.
“We have a brilliant relationship with the trust, and this is an exciting year for the priory, with the opening of our new museum in August.
“The work done by Halton Housing (Trust) was amazing.
“Braving the weather to help get the grounds ready for opening, and doing work that otherwise would have been difficult to achieve. We rely on our great group of volunteers at Norton Priory, and adding Halton Housing Trust to our team has strengthened this partnership for everyone.”
Vikki Mack, PA to the trust’s chief executive Nick Atkin, leads on the housing association’s charity work.
She said: “Since we started working with local charities in 2006, we’ve provided support totalling just under a quarter of a million pounds and this is another example of how we are making a real difference to the local charities that we work with, as often they don’t receive a great deal of funding.
“It’s fantastic to see Norton Priory benefiting from the skills and expertise of our employees.”