ravensthorpe community centre
London
The organisation was set up in 2000 as an independent charity to run a community
facility. Since then it has gone from strength to strength by expanding the
space available for activities and delivering its own services such as
childcare, adult learning health and well-being projects. Outline below is our
story: 1999 - In 1999, with the closure and demolition of the Foundry Street
youth club, a meeting was held by representatives of local Ravensthorpe based
community groups about the possibility of acquiring a building for general
community use. After many meetings and discussions between them and Kirklees
Council, it was agreed that if representatives could come together to form a
group, Kirklees Council would support them in acquiring and running a community
building through available European SRB Grant funding. With St Johns Ambulance
Centre looking for new premises their building came up for sale, it was
purchased by the newly formed group in 1999 and renamed as the Ravensthorpe
Community Centre. 2000 - The building underwent a series of alterations to make
it more suitable for use as a community centre, the building had disabled ramps
put in and the rooms were changed to make then suitable for community use. In
May 2000 the building was officially opened by Mayor of Kirkless. The building
subsequently became very popular with regular users such as a wide range of
community groups, the local further education college holding learning classes
and a local provider delivering crèche facilities.