A FORMER caretaker’s bungalow at a York primary school has been given a new lease of life thanks to a generous bequest.

About £9,000 was used from a bequest given by a former teacher from Yearsley Grove Primary School to help revive the old caretaker’s bungalow that was built with the school in 1965 and has been lying derelict for more than three years.

The school’s inclusion manager, Liz Tomlinson, said the former caretaker moved out about ten years ago and the building was subsequently used as a nursery and then for pre and after-school clubs, but it has laid derelict and unloved ever since.

Now, simply named The Bungalow, it has reopened as a community building with a large meeting space and kitchen facilities.

Haxby Road Children’s Centre is one of the first organisations to sign up to hold classes there.

Mrs Tomlinson said: “We held a launch day and Jill Hodges, City of York Council’s assistant director, education and skills, came along to officially open the building.

“What we’d like now is to have families and the community using The Bungalow and letting us know what they would like to see happening there. It’s a fabulous new facility and the children’s centre have had their first session in there which went really well.

“I’m hoping that will be a great start to more people coming and using the building.”

Mrs Tomlinson said the plan was to hold coffee mornings for parents with older children, but the building would also be available for health visitors, school nurses or the Citizens Advice Bureau to use.

Mrs Hodges said: “It is lovely to see such a welcoming family centre and that both the school and children’s centre are involved.

“This means that some services from the Haxby Road children’s centre will also be delivered from this new centre.

“It’s also good to hear that families’ views are being taken into account as the centre develops.”

If anyone wants to use the building they should phone Mrs Tomlinson on 01904 656681, or email liz.tomlinson@york.gov.uk