There are big plans for the future of a community hall which has already undergone a drastic transformation.

Since it was taken over by a trust three years ago, Friendship House in Minster is almost unrecognisable.

Last February it reopened after a £30,000 revamp which included rewiring, installation of double-glazing, new flooring and new safety measures.

Over the years, it has been supported with cash from Island councillors, funding from various groups and organisations and by having work done for free by Sheppey businesses.

Now the Love Lane venue has benefited from a £4,439.20 donation from Minster Parish Council, which was presented to trust chairman Theresa Langworthy earlier this month.

That money has been spent on insulating the loft, new curtains, a pelmet to go above the new stage curtains and kitchen equipment including 100 plates, cups, knives, forks and spoons – and some milk jugs.

Older items which they were getting rid of have been given to the Wisdom Hospice in Rochester which was able to use them to raise funds.

Mrs Langworthy, who estimates around £55,000 has been spent on the hall since the start, says she is delighted with how the hall looks and after finishing this latest bout of refurbishment, is now funding her latest idea.

The building is used every day and every evening of the week.The groups based there need somewhere to store equipment.

So she is hoping to raise around £39,000 to pay for an extension and is already looking into grant options available.

“I’d like to say thank you to Minster Parish Council – the grant has really gone a long way and it helped more than one group as the hospice benefitted,” Mrs Langworthy said.

“When we started it was virtually derelict and now it’s in constant demand – in fact more than I can keep up with.”