VOLUNTEERS who have turned an abandoned toilet block into a thriving community centre have been nominated for the Charity of the Year accolade in this year’s Argus Community Stars Awards.

Little over a year ago, Easthill Park in Portslade was the subject of complaints and concerns over antisocial behaviour and public drunkenness, centred around a dilapidated disused toilet block.

After the efforts of the volunteers of Fresh Start Sussex that building is now a cafe and community centre which provides a focus for residents and has provided training for young people and a chance to socialise for the elderly.

The Fresh Start team, which includes Lee Stannard, Neil Dickinson and John Shepherd, convinced Brighton and Hove City Council to rent it the building and it has sourced funding from the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and the National Lottery.

Once the building was cleaned, which included the removal of graffiti dating back to the Eighties, and renovated, the cafe opened on March 6 last year.

In its first year the team has trained a dozen young people in catering and basic work skills, allowing them easier access to the career ladder, and served more than 7,000 mothers, fathers, grandparents, children and dog walkers.

The team has also put on community events, including history walks, a healthy eating course and a teenage cooking class.

Councillor Alan Robins, who nominated the charity, said: “What they’ve done is extraordinary, getting grants from here there and everywhere and really making a difference.

“What they do for young people helps raise their expectations for themselves, and the Saturday football afternoon for the over-50s is great. They chat over the football results and there are free cups of tea and bacon rolls.It helps combat isolation.”