VOLUNTEERS from Roberts Bakery rolled up their sleeves over 40 days to help spruce up The Venue in Rudheath.

Pete Rams, Mike Malam, Clive John, Andy Roden, Kay Assad, Sue Sherlock and Rob Newton of Roberts Bakery were among some of the volunteers who painted hundreds of square metres of walls in the main foyer and meeting rooms at the community building.

Their painting marathon was the second phase of works which the bakery has been involved in at The Venue.

Late last year a team from Roberts’ went along to clean up the unsightly brickwork on the building – a huge task which took six people four days to complete.

Rob Newton, facilities manager at Roberts Bakery, has been co-ordinating the programme of improvements.

Rob and his colleague Tim Daniels drafted in local tradespeople to supply labour and materials to help to overhaul the building.

They also enlisted some Roberts’ staff from the engineering and building maintenance departments to install safety catches on nursery room doors and box in pipework.

Rob said: “This building was once dingy and neglected, so it’s wonderful to see it’s undergoing such a radical and visible improvement.

“I’m pleased so many staff have got on board with such a well-known community building that’s right on our doorstep.

“All the hard work is paying off and the Venue is already becoming a popular location for local events, groups and classes.

“The three meeting rooms we’ve just painted provide the perfect setting for local businesses that need space for meetings and our business will definitely use this resource on an ongoing basis.”

The Venue, which is across the road from the family-owned bakery, was acquired by Rudheath Parish Council in June last year.

The 1970s building was in need of refurbishment and modernisation and, through its unpaid members, the parish council has been working to transform it into a safe and comfortable community resource.

More than a dozen staff from Roberts Bakery have already given their time at The Venue under the company’s community volunteer programme. The next stage of works will be to install a new kitchen.

Cllr Nigel Wilder, chairman of The Venue management committee, said: “It’s been terrific to inspire local businesses to get involved and the team from Roberts Bakery has really helped give this building a much-needed boost.

“We’re really proud of the work that’s been done to restore this neglected building and we’ve made a massive improvement to it in just 12 months.”

“We’re really proud of the work that’s been done to restore this neglected building and we’ve made a massive improvement to it in just 12 months.

"We now have 15 groups who regularly use the building and we are taking lots of bookings for parties and meetings.

"We’re hoping to fill the diary as more people become aware of the improvements we’ve made.”