Grant funding enables local Centre to flourish
News release issued:
A Stourport Community Centre has been transformed into a lively hub hosting a range of activities thanks to a government grant awarded by Wyre Forest District Council.
Stourport Town Council took on the centre which is located in the Memorial Park in 2022 and wanted to breathe new life into the facility. The grant funding has enabled them to make improvements to the building to cater for more people. It is now home to a wide range of weekly activities ranging from a marching band practice, youth club, mothers and toddlers’ group and health and fitness classes, not forgetting sugar craft on a Thursday!
Sue Saunders, Clerk of Stourport Town Council said:
“The Town Council decided to take the management of the centre in-house with the objective of making it attractive and accessible for everyone in the community. Before we could make this happen, we wanted to make some improvements, inside and out. The building structure itself was sound, but it needed specific updates to meet the needs of a wide range of users.
“We drew up a makeover programme to provide a new clean, modern kitchen, a large open general space with storage for all sorts of community activity equipment, a new front door and external security on all the windows.
“We applied for a government backed community grant through the district council and were awarded £18,726 to cover the cost of the transformation. Over the next few months, we gathered quotes from local companies, awarded the contract and got to work!
“It’s great to see the space now being used to its full potential. Bookings are up by 80% since the refurbishment which is great news for the community and the sustainability of the centre. The materials and furniture we used for the improvements means that the centre is easy to look after with the regular users having space to store their equipment.
“The kitchen is now bright and welcoming and has lots of cupboard space, and large central space is ideal for small or larger events and is a “go to” venue for children’s parties. To make the building more safe and secure, we fitted robust roller shutters on all the windows and a new sturdy front door.”
Janis Andrzejewski teaches senior fitness at Stourport Community Centre. She started her ‘Move it or lose it’ fitness and Chair Yoga classes in January of this year. Janis said:
“The Centre is in a great location on the edge of the Memorial Park, making it very accessible to not only the immediate area but the areas surrounding it, as it has a large easily accessible car park - ideal for my clients as some of them have mobility issues.
“Inside is spacious and comfortable with ample light and a very efficient heating system for the winter, which is essential for my clients. It has the disabled toilet facility which is large enough to enter for wheelchair users. Having two emergency exits, it is safe and would be easy to evacuate if necessary.
“There are plenty of tables and chairs and the use of a clean well fitted kitchen. There is also a good-sized secure storeroom where users of the centre can leave their equipment should they need to. The centre is a great place to teach and I would recommend it to other instructors who might be looking for somewhere to hire.”
Councillor Dan Morehead, Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Planning and the Green Agenda concludes:
“It’s great to see the improvements at the Community Centre supported through government funding. It is a valued community asset and will no doubt host many events for years to come.”
Commentary by Sue Saunders, Town Clerk of Stourport Town Council:
Since taking the Community Centre over from Wyre Forest, the upgrades have included a brand new kitchen and safety shutters to the outside of the building, which have greatly increased the security.
The old shutters were an old roller system, which couldn't be locked because they kept falling apart and together with the kitchen inside, we applied for a government backed community grant through Wyre Forest District Council, and we were successful, and that enabled us to have the work carried out.
Commentary by Janis Andrzejewski, teacher of ‘Move It Or Lost It’ at Stourport Community Centre:
I teach fitness for seniors. I teach Movie It Or Lose It. It can be practiced either seated, standing with the support of a chair, or just free standing. It's mainly seniors that do it, but sometimes we get people who aren't well or who have got disabilities, or they're recovering from injury or surgery.
I didn't know the kitchen before but it's pleasant. Ladies make themselves a coffee while they're waiting, so they use the facilities in there.
Commentary by Sue Saunders, Town Clerk of Stourport Town Council:
We've received some really positive feedback. The whole process took about six months. The kitchen, I think, had been installed about 25 years ago. Doors were falling off. Nothing worked in there, i.e. the fridge. The electrics all had to be re-checked, and again with the funding of the shutters and the kitchen, it's turned the Community Centre round.