West Bromwich estate benefits from Connaught's community prize draw » Housing » 24dash.com

Residents of the Charlemont estate in West Bromwich gathered at their local community and youth centre to celebrate the completion of a £10,000 community refurbishment by Connaught.

Up to 300 local people use the centre on a weekly basis attending activities ranging from youth groups to bingo clubs.

Prior to the refurbishment, users of the centre found the dated and scruffy toilets un-pleasant and put many new people off using the centre. 

Ismail Mohammed, Community Centre Manager, said: “With this wonderful contribution from Connaught and Sandwell Homes, it not only supports the community centre but also the community within the Charlemont estate.

"We are so grateful to Connaught for the work they have carried out; it will certainly benefit all those who use the centre. This is a clear demonstration of how partnership working can really benefit the tenants and help to build positive communities.”

Charlemont Community & Youth Centre has benefited from the installation of brand new toilet facilities. The refurbishment to both sets of toilets within the centre includes new cubicles, wash basins, tiling, flooring and complete decoration. In addition, heating has been installed in the disabled toilet and been given a much needed lick of paint.

The Charlemont Community centre is one of three community projects completed by Connaught during the past 3 months.

Elim Pentecostal Church in Smethwick has also benefited from the installation of central heating and decoration in the communal area of the church, and local people of Great Barr have had a memorial constructed to remember all those who worked and died in the Hamstead mining disaster of 1908.

Representatives of Connaught liaised with Sandwell Homes Housing Manager, Tom Norton and Sandwell tenant representatives to discuss ideas of how to use the £25,000 labour and materials which were won at Connaught’s community prize draw at the Harrogate CIH exhibition last year.

The consultation process with tenants took 12 months to complete and suggested projects were researched and assessed on their suitability and the value they would give back to the community.

Now the refurbishment is complete Centre Manager, Ismail Mohammed, is looking forward to providing an increased range of activities and services to the community. He aims to be able to provide a holiday club during the holiday periods for local youngsters, offer language lessons and health and well being workshops.

All will benefit the local community and bring local people together by giving local people a welcoming place that they can meet and take part in varied activities. 

Connaught is currently working within the Charlemont estate on the Meadow Avenue high rise blocks carrying out external refurbishment works in partnership with Sandwell Decent Homes Partnership.