A community centre that has become the hub of village life is celebrating its 20th birthday this autumn as it embarks on a fundraising drive for a new roof.

Twenty years ago, after eighteen months of intense campaigning to buy the old primary in South Brent, The Old School Community Centre was created.

The plan was to provide a home for a library and the village playgroup, and to create a space for many activities that were not at the time available in the village.

The building has now become an important destination for young and old, and the centre of South Brent’s thriving village community. However, it was opened in 1876, and like other buildings of its age requires constant maintenance, to the extent it has been compared to the Forth Bridge in Scotland - as soon as one thing is completed, another needs to be done.

The next big project is the roof, which is in desperate need of renewal due to ‘nail rot’. With this in mind, and to celebrate 20 years as a community centre, the trustees and centre manger Glyn Richards, are running a series of 20 events this autumn.

Under the banner of ’Raise the Roof’, the events range from art and drama workshops, a family ceilidh, jazz and other music evenings, wine tasting, a clothes swap and a craft fair.

Mr Richards said: "After twenty years of maintaining this old building, it is finally time to fix the roof. Our fundraising campaign ‘Raising the Roof’ launches on Friday, September 15 and continues with 20 events over three months to mark the 20th birthday of the Community Centre.

"There is a diverse program from Elfic the Jester to Wine tasting, with a ceilidh and jazz along the way. So please come along and join in the festivities”.

Over the years, the Old School has become the home of countless cluns and organisations like Brent Singers, as well as hosting ballet classes, yoga, tai chi, modern language and art classes. It houses the offices of South Brent and District Caring, and hosts the charity’s lunch club and coffee mornings for senior citizens, as well as craft fairs, plant sales, and innumerable regular and occasional events.

The Breakfast Café, raising money for anything from local organisations to international disasters, has raised thousands of pounds, and become one of the centre’s flagship events. These along with the library, lunch club, corridor gallery and coffee mornings rely on the good will and generosity of a large number of volunteers.

Two years ago a gym was added to the Old School’s facilities, a joint project with Ashmoor Fitness Centre at South Dartmoor Academy. The gym now has a membership of around 120 and is proving very popular.

To find out more about the Raise the Roof events or anything else going on, visit www.theoldschool.org.uk .