Ten years ago, an empty back-street pub was converted into a community centre to lift the spirits of its rundown neighbourhood.

Since then, The Magpie Centre in Luton, Chatham has gone from strength to strength — a lifeline for thousands of people, and, some would say, the raft of services provided by dedicated staff and volunteers have saved their lives.

It was three decades ago that the neighbouring church had a vision of buying the old Magpie Tavern and opening it up as a meeting place for people living in one of the most deprived areas of Medway.

Spurred by a £300,000 grant from the Diocese of Rochester, which bought the building from the brewery in 2011, the project was led by St Paul’s with All Saints’ Church.

Businesses and Medway Council made donations to complete the £500,000 makeover, and Scouts and young people from the Prince’s Trust converted the pub garden into a vegetable patch.

Families are encouraged to pop in for craft sessions, talk about mental health issues, use computers or simply have a cuppa in the café.

During school holidays, a wide range of activities is laid on for children, and at Christmas, a hundred hampers along with presents are handed out.

Parents struggling to put meals on the table are taught how to cope with a tight budget by batch cooking, freezing leftovers and using fresh fruit and vegetables rather than relying on ready meals.

When money became available, they dished out about 80 slow cookers to provide wholesome meals with cheaper cuts of meat.

The centre in Magpie Hall Road came into its element, supplying food parcels to 300 people a week.

Speaking on the tenth anniversary, held this month, Kirsty Scurr, 41, who is the project manager, said: “To sum it up, we are community-led and we’re here for everyone.

“We do our research and listen to what people want.

“We provide a friendly and safe atmosphere, and we are not judgmental.

“Many of our volunteers and staff have lived experiences and know what it’s like not to have money in the bank.”

The former chef and mum to an 11-year-old started off working there as an advice volunteer before taking on the lead role three years ago.

She said: “I would not say things have got that much better in this area. There’s still violence, anti-social behaviour, and drugs are a big issue.

“There is a lot of temporary accommodation with people moving around a lot.”

But she gains satisfaction that her four part-time staff and band of 30 volunteers provide support to those who need it most and see some of the end results.

Testimony to this is Jason Bradford, 56, a former drug addict with alcohol and gambling problems who has turned his life around.

Jason paid a visit in January 2024, when, after years of abuse and trying to end his life, he said he was “at rock bottom”.

He said: “I was put into emergency accommodation in Chatham. I had £5, enough food for a day and a half, a small bag of belongings and no access to a phone.

He occupied his time by walking to Gillingham library and back to get a book, and then one day he decided to call into the centre.

He said: “I had no self-esteem, no identity, I felt worthless.

“I had two options. To die or do something.”

Staff helped him secure accommodation and put him in contact with several self-help groups, including Cocaine Anonymous and Open Road, a Chatham-based charity that cares for those dependent upon drugs and alcohol.

He now has a job cleaning property for the homeless organisation, Amat, has rekindled his relationship with his ex-wife and 27-year-old son and goes to church regularly.

He said: “The only time I ever went to church was for weddings and funerals. I got baptised on Easter Sunday, and a lady from the church is now my landlady.”

Currently off work with a shoulder injury, Jason is a mentor for men with mental health issues at the centre.

He is both clean and sober and says he lives “for today and not yesterday”.

Jason added: “Basically, this place saved my life.”

Widower Mark Lambert, 62, started coming along after his wife Carol died in February 2023.

He started doing a few outdoor chores and helped to create a memorial garden where he seeks solace after his loss..

Mark said: “It means a lot to me. I found a rose called Carol Ann, which I have planted there in her memory.”

Gordon Lewington, 33, who has cerebral palsy, has volunteered for 10 years and has done fundraising events to help towards running costs.

Gordon, who lives in Gillingham, said: “If I didn’t come here, I’d just be indoors all the time.”

His involvement has also given him confidence to apply for jobs, and he now works part-time at Asda at Horsted Retail Park.

Kirsty said: “When I was offered the post, I thought I’d give it a go.

“You see people come here out of necessity to the food bank, but there str often other underlying problems that come to light.

“I used to be a chef at Gillingham Golf Club, so it was a big career change, but I will never look back.”

Medway Council leader Vince Maple believes it’s made a real difference in the community.

He said: “This centre has truly been a beacon of hope through the last decade, whether we are going through a cost-of-living crisis or a global pandemic.

“The Magpie Centre has been a trusted local centre for the local community.”