Funding and volunteers are needed to help transform the King’s Theatre in Ramsgate into a Hindu temple and community space.
The Kent Tamil Association has been working to create the temple, main hall and community kitchen but say without the help of the community it will be an ‘impossible task.’
The association is run entirely by volunteers who want to create a centre where everyone is welcome to pop in, have a chat and experience a different culture.
Volunteer administrator Ramona Arning said: “We need urgent funding in order to open the temple officially. We are a charity so no one gets paid and everything is purely done by volunteers.
“Once it is finished, we will be able to run it ourselves from small donations but this is a massive project and we need help from outside.
“We are currently only open on Friday evenings due to the state of the building. We would like to change this as soon as possible but without the help of outsiders this will be an impossible task.
“We are looking for volunteers to work in and out of the temple with painting and decorating, tiling, flooring and woodworks.
“We can’t say how much your help or how much your donation means, if you consider it as small to us it’s priceless.”
The community kitchen will serve meals that are meat, fish and egg free. Everyone will be welcome to pop in.
There will coffee mornings, work with young people and older people and the Tamil community hopes to be able to help people experience a different culture.
Ramona said: “There will be collection boxes in order to be self sufficient once the temple is fully running. The temple is a huge old building that’s over 100 years old. It is not just for us but also for the community of Thanet to keep this beautiful building going.”
The Kent Thanet Sra Durgai temple is in King’s Place, Ramsgate. The association can be contacted on 07852 885 312 or 07572 434 540.
Would this be a project for the community service sentenced people to be assigned to or assist in being it is for the community. If I was physically able I would be willing to do some painting. I hope you are able to get some good help. Does anyone know if there is a system for applications for people who have been sentenced to hours of community service to help assist in this way thanks in advance Chris.
But surely it is primarily for the Hindu community ? Why would pep[le of other communities, beliefs, ethnicities, etc. wish to give time or money ? The proposed kitchen would only be of interest to non-meat and -fish eaters.
And before some snowflake accuses me of being racist – I am merely pointing out the viability of such a large enterprise being conducted by such a relatively small group.
This building should never, ever have been left to deteriorate. I just hope some help can be given, at least it will be a building that will give benefit, no matter how small the group. Perhaps dual enterprise would have benefit.