Rotorua's St Chads Charitable Trust celebrates building grand opening

It was an exciting day for St Chads Charitable Trust as it celebrated the grand opening of its new building.

The opening on Monday included a ribbon cutting and naming ceremony, with Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick speaking, and a tour of the new site. It has been named Quin House.

As well as the main centre building, St Chads has owned 4 Devon St next door for a while. However, it was tenanted until December last year.

St Chads Charitable Trust centre manager Nicky Mayne says it feels amazing to have the official opening for the building.

"It was such an exciting thing because it signifies so many things for us as an organisation."

She says the opening of the building signifies an evolving organisation responding to the changing of the environment.

Nicky says the St Chads clients are excited about the new building and the opportunities it presents to them.

St Chads centre manager Nicky Mayne speaks at the grand opening. Photo / Stephen Parker

The building is named Quin House in honor of Lu Quin, who started St Chads.

"She was the one that had a vision for a communication centre that became St Chads. We are honouring her and the history of St Chads."

Nicky says the new building will be used for a few different purposes.

It will be used to help St Chads clients towards supported independent living, and giving them skills they need.

It will also be used for community classes where people can learn alongside St Chads members, as well as for social and additional space.

She says the garden will also be a key area where they grow vegetables for the community.

A lot of work has been done on the building in recent months, with a number of organisations contributing.

"Quite a few different organisations provided low or no cost services to help us achieve it.

"It's also fully wheelchair accessible now."