Croston Old School Community Trust's grant from the National Lottery Charities Board for £481,062 has funded the majority of a £520,000 scheme to convert the Old School buildings and create a Community Resource Centre for Croston and surrounding villages in Lancashire, UK.
Croston is situated in Central Lancashire approximately 10 miles from Preston, Wigan, Ormskirk and Southport. Neighbouring villages include Ulnes Walton, Mawdesley, Eccleston and Bretherton.
The Old School is a Grade 2 listed building which originates from 1660 and was rebuilt by subscription in 1827. It is in the centre of the village at the end of Church Street within an Article 4 conservation area, next to the 900 year old church and next to the River Yarrow. Until 1999 the buildings were used by Lancashire County Council as a school for up to 60 children, in March 1999 the children were re-located to new school buildings and the Old School was left vacant.
In 1999 a survey was carried out in the village to which over 300 responses were received all bar one fully supported the scheme which was developed in the spring of 1999, outline planning permission was granted in the Spring of 2000.
The buildings were opened to user groups and the public at Easter 2001 and provide;
· a new home for Croston Pre-school
· a large community space with meeting rooms and storage space
· an exhibition area for local arts and heritage projects and artefacts
· an archive library and a computer room equipped by Skelmersdale & Ormskirk College
· space for daytime adult education and lifelong learning
The Centre has now been open for more than three years and continues to go from strength to strength. Bookings for parties and private celebrations have continued to increase and the centre has become particularly popular for christenings.
Our adult education courses have been well attended both in term time with Sklemersdale & Ormskirk College, and during the school holidays with Lancashire College. The Trustees have also been working with 'Spot-On' Rural Touring to bring a wide variety of entertainments to the village. These have included folk groups, jazz artists and one man shows. They also work with the Chorley Film Society to bring films to the village during the autumn and winter months.
Croston Old School is a registered charity (incorporated in December 1998). Its Trustees are local people who worked with the help and advice of a range of key agencies to develop a detailed business plan which was submitted to the National Lottery Charities Board in the autumn of 1999.