A dilapidated pub in High Wycombe will be turned into a 'community centre for all' thanks to a £75,000 funding boost.

The former Happy Wanderer pub in Arnison Avenue is set to be transformed into a “fully equipped and accessible community facility” after The Veolia Environmental Trust awarded the Wycombe Islamic Society (WISE) the cash injection.

The group, who bought the pub last year, hopes to use the money to refurbish the premises and make use of the facilities “for the Muslim faith as well as other faiths”, according to trustee and secretary Amjad Iqbal.

Mr Iqbal told the BFP the group would not be turning it into an Islamic centre as they found people would be “more hesitant” to use it for other activities if prayers were taking place in the building at the same time.

He said: “The new centre will benefit the whole community and we anticipate it will become a focal point for a wide range of services and events for people of all ages and backgrounds.

“We want to be able to offer something back to the community, engage with a wider range of people and show that we are a part of this town. We want the whole community to be able to use the facilities.”

The Veolia Environmental Trust has also awarded the Amersham Old Town Revitalisation Group (AOTRG) a £27,000 grant to help fund the creation of a new play area and park between the A413 Amersham bypass and Fieldway.

AOTRG’s chairperson and project manager, Amersham Town cllr Julie Cook said, “This new play area and social space will be a resource that everyone can use and enjoy.”

Executive director of The Veolia Environmental Trust, Paul Taylor, congratulated WISE and AOTRG on securing the grants totalling £102,000 in an “extremely competitive environment”.

He said: “These projects will transform the play area and the old pub for the benefit of people of all ages living in the town.”