A WEST Devon support centre is celebrating the New Year with a facelift.

Volunteers from Tavistock Area Support Services have been praised for their tireless efforts in helping refurbish and redecorate the charity's Anchorage Centre, next to the town's bus station.

The centre was closed for activities on December 22 for essential building work and will be reopened to clients next Monday, January 19.

TASS is an organisation which works in support of anyone over the age of 55 — but with special emphasis on the more elderly and frail members of the community.

The building work has been carried out by AC Worth of Lewdown, treating and making good damp at the back of the main hall. A group of volunteers painted the building from top to bottom, with paint donated by Focus, Tavistock, Trago Mills and Proper Job Chagford, and kitchen furniture was supplied at cost by Howden Timber, Launceston.

Andy Lyle, TASS's General Manager, said how grateful he was to the businesses who have donated, but said without the dedication from volunteers, the rejuvenating of the centre would 'never have happened'.

'Without them we couldn't do any of this and the hundreds of people who use TASS wouldn't be able to benefit from the many services we offer here at TASS,' said Andy.

'We haven't redecorated in ten years and we were in need of updating the furnishings.

'We had the opportunity of purchasing new furnishings through grants received from trusts. Existing furniture will be used to furnish a smaller meeting room upstairs, making the facility more versatile.'

Services offered by TASS will be back in full swing after the Anchorage Centre is reopened on Monday, January 19 at 10.30am.

The diary for 2009 will see the many favourites of TASS' clients, including tea dances, table tennis, music and movement and many more. Many other charities make use of this valuable resource — a full list of activities is available from The Anchorage Centre.

Broadcaster Angela Rippon, patron of TASS, said: 'TASS really does live up to its name.

'It's there for people in the Tavistock area.

'It provides invaluable support to individuals and their families, and the service is first class. 

'We're really lucky to have such a terrific group of professionals and volunteers working in the community.'