Volunteer to help keep historic Derbyshire building restoration project alive

The Grand Pavilion in Matlock Bath has undergone a huge transformation in recent years, with many areas of the historical building undergoing improvement and renovation, but there is still much to do.

Lockdown measures have forced the current team of volunteers, many of whom are classed as ‘high risk’, to stay at home and now an appeal has been launched to recruit teenagers and adults on furlough to volunteer their time and to help keep the restoration project afloat.

Nick Whitehead, chairman of the operations team at The Grand Pavilion, said: “Our building has been on complete lockdown and its been very strange to walk around when its usually so full of activity and life.

“Our building stands strong today thanks to our volunteers and the continued support from our community whose efforts and engagement have meant that we started lockdown in a good position.

“But we have been unable to continue our maintenance and buildings work to secure a future for this wonderful old building, and we very much hope to bounce back quickly.”

The Grand Pavilion in Matlock Bath is an iconic Edwardian building with a turbulent past.

The building remains closed for the foreseeable future and now is the ideal time to make headway with some of the smaller projects.

There are rooms that need decorating, walls that need prepping, holes that need filling, windowsills that need painting, weeds that need pulling, pictures that need hanging, light bulbs that need replacing, flooring that needs cleaning and much more.

Nick added: “Even in these strange times of social distancing we have lots of jobs that will need doing, both inside and outside the building, and encourage our local community step forwards to volunteer with us.

“Even if its only for a couple of hours each month, we’ll find something to suit you.”