What was once slated for demolition in the 1990s has since become indispensable. The Ferryhill Ladder Centre is a place where communities come together, friendships are formed and local initiatives take shape. Now another ambitious project is on the horizon – and the centre is looking for you, writes volunteer community journalist, Mona Schulze.
Step up in life: Ladder Centre in Ferryhill is there to help
The Ladder Centre does not fit neatly into one category. It is part job centre, part food bank, part social club, part advice surgery — and yet it is none of those things entirely.
“It really is about what our community needs are, and we will always try and support those,” says manager Kath Merrington.
Kath first arrived at the Ferryhill Ladder Centre through her work with Citizens Advice and began volunteering there. She recalls being “amazed” by the range of activities and support taking place under one roof. Nearly two decades later, she has become one of the centre’s longest-serving staff members:
“I’ve been here 18 years and I’ve seen us grow and change what we do over that time. It’s pretty impressive.”
What started as a residence association has turned into far more than a local service: Spread across two floors, the centre offers countless opportunities for people to get involved, meet others and access support when they need it. Whatever the problem – benefits, debt, housing or work – advice is available free of charge.
“We are open access, so you walk through our door regardless of where you’re from – we will aim to help you,” states Kath.
A proud walk through the centre
The centre’s walls are filled with artwork offering just a glimpse into the wide range of groups and activities that take place there. Many of these initiatives are aimed at young people, giving them opportunities to get involved, learn new skills and play an active role in their community.
For Kath, however, the artwork is not the only visible sign of the centre’s impact:
“It’s seeing children who are struggling at school and tell us they’re going to university. It’s seeing people who haven’t worked for ten-plus years get their first job in a long time.”
Outside, another community project is beginning to bear fruit. The centre’s garden reflects the spirit of the Ladder Centre itself: full of life and shaped by the people who care for it.
And just as a plant can blossom with the right support, so too can the people:
“There are people who won’t talk, who are shy and very withdrawn, that make friends and engage with people and move their lives forward,” tells Kath.
No matter what that engagement looks like, the centre’s goal remains the same:
“All we ever want is just for people to see there’s a big wide world out there — and get out and live it.”
Musical therapy
Every Monday at lunchtime a mixed bunch of men gather at the centre to perform songs, share ideas and support one another. The project began when the songwriter Gary arrived with a simple but powerful idea: bringing people together through music.
“It was trying to be positive about the area and get across the idea of diversity, inclusivity, and making people welcome,” says Gary.
That spirit remains at the heart of the group. Learning with each other, learning from each other – it is evident as soon as you walk into the room. “He’s never played a guitar before, and in six months he’s learned to play the bass guitar,” says one band member, pointing at another with a grin.
The men keep showing up, guitars in hand, songs half-finished and ideas brewing. By now, they have written around 20 songs between them — and the music, it turns out, is only part of the story.
“It’s a way for people to get a lot of things out of them — it’s good therapy, you know,” says a band member.
The next milestone is recording an album of their original songs and then taking it beyond the walls of the centre. And for anyone thinking of picking up an instrument, the message is simple: new members are always welcome.
WANTED: Ferryhill Fixers
The next project taking shape at the centre is a Repair Café: Once a month, beginning in September, people bring in whatever is broken and volunteers help to fix it. A wonky bike, a fraying jacket, a lamp that stopped working. Instead of throwing it away, volunteers are there to help.
For Kath, it is about more than saving money: “We want to get people to think about where things come from, where they go to, and how we can make the world a bit of a better place.”
But as with everything at the Ladder Centre, the project only works if people show up. “We need people to pull together and help each other more, and it’s just another opportunity to do that.”
The centre is looking for volunteers with skills in bike repair, small electrics, woodwork, sewing, toy repair — or anything else that might stop something ending up in a skip. No formal experience necessary, just a willingness to share what you know. If that sounds like you, the centre would love to hear from you: kath[@]ferryhillladdercentre[.]org[.]uk.
Mona Schulze
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
