Ripon Community House has invested a £1,000 grant from Leeds Building Society Foundation in an evacuation chair to ensure the safety of its users in an emergency.
The community hub opened its doors to the public in 2006 after £1.3 million was raised to buy and refurbish the building. It was designed to ensure all visitors can access the services provided.
It also offers subsidised accommodation for local charities, enabling them to support local residents from a central location.
Stuart Martin MBE, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Ripon Community House, said: “The evacuation chair will ensure our less mobile service users can leave the building safely and easily in an emergency.
“We would like to thank Leeds Building Society Foundation for its grant enabling the purchase of the chair, further enhancing the service we can provide to our users.”
More than 12,000 people use Ripon Community House every year to access a wide range of services and activities, including adult learning classes in Maths, English and IT, Pilates and baby yoga.
Gary Brook, Head of Corporate Communication at Leeds Building Society and a Foundation trustee said: “Ripon Community House is dedicated to providing a wide range of services and activities to the local community.
“We’re dedicated to investing in the areas we operate and are pleased our grant will be used to enhance the safety of visitors to Ripon Community House in the future.”