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Bishop Auckland Discovery Centre has given a new lease to an old building at North Bondgate, Bishop Auckland. An official launch to open the new Discovery Centre will take place at 1 p.m. on Thursday 15th February at the new premises. It had been used as a Cycle Shop but had been empty for some years and was in need of some tender loving care.

The new Discovery Centre will open to the public from Friday 16 February 2007 with an exhibition "The Romans in County Durham" by Roma Antiqua. The centre will be running 'hands on' workshops for schools, interactive exhibitions and walks around Bishop Auckland.

Groundwork West Durham and Darlington and the Discovery Centre Volunteers were given a massive boost after successfully applying for a grant of £45,300 for the centre from the Heritage Lottery Fund, through the 'Your Heritage' grant programme. The volunteers will be staffing and running the centre.

Ann Collins, Heritage Project Officer for Groundwork West Durham and Darlington, said; "We rely heavily on volunteers to help manage the centre and now, thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund, we can give them a quality volunteering experience by offering them the training and the resources they need. Once the centre is open there will be a large recruitment drive to attract new volunteers."

"Our mission is to make everyone proud of their heritage, diversity, cultures, traditions and ways of life!"

The Heritage Lottery Fund will also be supporting improved facilities and displays within the new Discovery Centre through the Natural England- led Mineral Valleys Project.