Opening day for new community base

Published by lpriest for Progress Housing Group in Housing and also in Communities

Residents of the Broadfield estate in Leylandhad reason to celebrate with the opening of a new community centre.

More than 100 people turned up to the unveiling of the new community base  which was official opened by Broadfield Resident Community Association members Karen Beech and Nadine Summers, who have been working on starting up the centre for over a year alongside The Leyland Project and New Progress Housing Association.

Known as the Broadfield Base, the new centre offBanister DriveinLeylandfeatures a multi purpose room, chatty corner for socialising, communal kitchen and computer area. Activities set to take place at the centre will include a youth club, community coffee mornings, parent and toddler groups and the dream scheme which is aimed at children aged 8-12 years old.

The opening was a great success with numerous activities for residents to enjoy, including sumo wrestling; silk painting, football tournaments and a wish tree were people could write down what they would like to see from the centre.

Sian Coulton, Resident Involvement officer for New Progress Housing Association, who helped with setting up the centre, said: “Saturday saw the culmination of many years’ hard work from key partners.  I am delighted that so many local people turned out to see the opening of The Base, which I am sure is going to be an extremely well-used community facility, and be to the benefit of New Progress Housing Association customers."

The opening of the centre was made possible due to funding received from Progress Housing Groups Community Investment Panel, who donated £17,000 to help transform the disused shop onBannister Drive, which is owned by New Progress Housing Association, into a new community centre.  The centre has also received support from South Ribble Borough Council, the United Reformed Church and local businesses.