A Suffolk day care centre has received a special award for its services to the community over the past 27 years.

Hopton Day Care Centre, or Home from Home, near Walsham-le-Willows, was awarded a scroll of honour by councillor Carol Bull, ward member, on behalf of St Edmundsbury Borough Council in recognition of its outstanding contribution.

The centre was originally set up in 1991 as part of the Suffolk Rural Day Centre Project to deliver a service and provide support to the frail and house-bound elderly in the community.

With funding from the Rural Development Commission, Help the Aged, and social services, the centre opened its doors in April that year with seven clients on the first day rising to 14 within 12-weeks. One of its first clients was Lucy Tucker who was aged 99.

It is based in High Street Chapel in Hopton and every Wednesday offers a home cooked lunch and games and activities and occasional outings for residents of a number of local villages. It also provides door-to-door transport for those who need it.

The centre is run by a team of 20 dedicated volunteers – two of whom, Joyce Barrett and Sue Shorten, have worked there from the very beginning and most of the staff have been helping out for many years.

Mrs Bull, who has been associated with the centre since she became ward member for Barningham, and was invited along for a coffee, said: “I am amazed at the dedication of all the volunteers who help to keep the day care centre going and never cease to be heartened by my visits to chat to everyone.

“It is always a very positive, happy and caring place and people clearly enjoy themselves.

“For many of those who attend, particularly those who are house-bound, it is an important part of their week and an opportunity to meet up with friends and be spoilt for the day.”

St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s ward councillors can award two councillor awards for outstanding contributions to the community during their four-year term.

The community awards enable councillors to recognise work within their own wards and come from them as individuals not the council as a whole.