Community centre gets grant lifeline

A HEALTHY living and community centre in Castleford has been given £95,000 backing from the Government to ensure it can continue to help people.

The Glasshoughton Centre on Leeds Road reinvests every penny of any surplus monies into supporting the local community.

More than 40 groups and teams aged from nine months to 90-years-old now meet at the centre, with activities such as bowling, knitting, Zumba dance and healthy walks taking place.

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Centre manager Derek Stead said: “We are thrilled to have the success of the centre recognised.

“From being a Miners’ Welfare, over the past 10 years, the Glasshoughton Centre has transformed into the vibrant heart of the community.

“It offers community rooms and events, business conferencing facilities, councillors’ surgeries, a huge range of sports teams and an activity studio in use from 9am to 9pm. Last year, over 60,000 people attended activities at the centre, an increase of nearly 20 per cent and its popularity is growing every year.

“The grant will strengthen our objectives around creating a more viable and successful social enterprise and in particular go towards enhancing our customer’s experience of our wide range of events and conferences with the appointment of our new hospitality coordinator May Ling Lai and online booking system.”

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Mr Stead added: “The centre had lost just about all its grant funding by the end of March amounting to over £150,000. Without this new money, the centre could have closed. The main reason the centre has been able to remain open until now is because the directors have invested heavily in the centre and the staff team by paying all running costs from Forum reserves.

Eric Jones, chairman of Glasshoughton Community Forum said: “This investment of new money from the Government’s Transition Fund is an expression of confidence in the centre.”

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