Hundreds of thousands of pounds have been granted to transform Brampton Community Centre - and this is how it could look.

The centre is due to get a £1m face lift and has now managed to secure almost 30 per cent of the funding needed.

The cash, from the Big Lottery Fund and a Cumbrian housing association, will see the first major improvements made to the buildings, in Union Lane, since the centre was established in 1998.

Over the next three years it will create 23 new jobs - eight in the cafe and another 15 in a new business hub.

Brampton and Beyond Community Trust, which runs the centre, announced that it has secured £224,000 from the Big Lottery Fund's Power to Change fund and £40,000 from Impact Housing Association.

It runs Bramble Court, the town's first extra care housing development, on the same site.

Another £36,000 is coming from other funders and from the trust's own cash.

The investment will bring into use about 200sq metres of the centre that are not used and will enable an expansion of many of the activities.

The long-awaited improvements are something the trust has been aiming to achieve for some time.

Nick Kennon, development and marketing officer, said: "This is fulfilling a very long-term ambition to upgrade the centre to do the things that the community wants.

"The trustees are so excited about this because it's something they've really wanted to do for a long time.

"It's an exciting time for the trust and for the community. And it's a significant investment just for the community.

"It brings the building up to 21st century standards."

Bev Chandler, the centre manager, said this was one of the most exciting times she had known in the 18 years she had been there.

"We can now look forward with confidence," she said.

Plans and architectural drawings were on display at the trust's annual general meeting last night (NOV 10) .

The boost means two of seven planned refurbishment projects can be brought to fruition, with work due to start in December for completion in February next year.

The first is to completely renovate the existing community cafe, providing a state of the art catering set-up, a new soft play structure, lounge and quiet area, internet access area and exhibition space for local artists and craft groups.

The second project is for a heated link corridor between the extra care housing development, Bramble Court, and the centre building.

News of the funding comes as the first residents moved in to their new homes this week.

It is hoped the wider scheme will be completed by 2018 in time to mark the centre's 20th anniversary.

In the past two years footfall has increased from about 45,000 per year to 65,000, demonstrating how those involved have adapted what they do to what the community wants.

Specific improvements have been shaped as a response to the 'People in Brampton Matter' questionnaire conducted in the spring.

Mr Kennon said: "The response is we've designed this new and exciting facility to completely modernise and refurbish it but to add in all of the things that the community needs and wants."

He explained that the trust has mapped out a funding and investment strategy and is confident all seven areas of work can be completed by 2018.

The works will also include connecting the children and young people’s area, new toilets and baby changing, along with new offices and exhibition spaces.

A supported employment and business hub with leased offices and business support is also part of the programme, along with plans for a climbing wall in the main hall and to re-position the stage.

Aside from these works there is also a two-year plan to secure funding to build a hydrotherapy pool on site, towards developing a leisure centre aspect to the site.

The centre also plans to become self-sufficient and generate its own energy.

Mr Kennon assured that there would be minimal disruption while works take place.