Ravensthorpe Community Centre

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.