£500k project to turn Brierley Hill garage into community centre complete

The premises were bought by members of the Albion Street Church congregation.

The Storehouse now boasts a range of facilities including a coffee lounge, a multi-media meeting room and an astro-turf activity area.

Storehouse project manager Trevor Fielding, aged 44, has spent more than a year converting the building which was last used as a food distribution centre.

It was bought by the church congregation for £325,000 and work started in January 2013.

Mr Fielding initially offered the church just a couple of weeks' labour but has remained to see the project through.

Working with him nearly every day on the 10,800 sq ft site have been church members Gary Colwell, Dave Coley and Maurice Edwards.

Mr Colwell, aged 61, a retired assistant principal of Holly Hall Academy, Dudley, said: "It's certainly been hard graft but incredibly rewarding to see everything gradually taking shape.

"We now have a fully functional, commercial quality kitchen/coffee lounge, excellent office and welfare facilities, a multi-media meeting room, an astro-turf activity area, as well as youth recreational facilities.

"None of this would have been possible but for the extremely generous giving of our members and others, including local businesses.

"They've donated items such as a drum kit, a sound deck and speakers, as well as direct finance.

"Local tradesmen have often given us preferred rates too."

The Storehouse name is taken from the story of Joseph in the Bible when he stored grain for times of famine.

"We're investing today for a better future, a better future for those in need now and a better future for local youngsters," added Mr Colwell.

An additional £10,000 is still needed to heat the indoor activity area.

There are around 60 members of the congregation.

The site is now shared as the new headquarters of The Black Country Foodbank, which has been running since 2006.

It helps vulnerable individuals and families in crisis through the provision of three days' emergency food supplies

A special service featuring the Caminul Felix Romanian Choir took place to mark the opening of The Storehouse.

On June 7, it will host the Dudley Volunteers Fayre from 10am-2pm while an open day showcasing the centre's facilities will take place on June 21 from 10am-2pm.