A community centre in Oldham has reopened its doors to residents following a refurbishment project.  

The Avenues and Hollins Community Centre next to Limeside Park reopened its doors on Wednesday, August 28 with a community fund day, which followed a six-month refurbishment, led by Onward Homes, a provider of social housing in the North West.

Prior to the refurbishment, Onward consulted with local residents, who said they were looking for a multi-purpose space to host a range of community activities.  

Local councillors and residents were amongst those who attended the reopeningLocal councillors and residents were amongst those who attended the reopening (Image: Onward Homes)

Onward worked with partners including Avenues and Hollins Residents Association (AHRA), Oldham Council, Oasis Hub, Bedrock, and ABL Health to put together a community-led vision for the centre.   

The community centre, which originally opened in 1997 and had been closed since the Covid pandemic, will now provide the local community with a space to host a range of activities and services delivered by local partners. 

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Andrew Brown, Director of Housing and Specialist Living at Onward, said: "We put the community at the heart of this project, listening to residents’ needs so that we could design a space that reflects their views and aspirations.

"Our collaboration with local partners and residents has enabled us to create a thriving centre that the community in Hollinwood can be proud of."

The reopening was celebrated with a fun dayThe reopening was celebrated with a fun day (Image: Onward Homes)

Steve Williams, a local resident and member of the AHRA, said: “This marvellous facility which can be used by all residents in the area will hopefully bring people together and rekindle some of the community spirit, something that we [the residents] enjoyed when the hall was open for all those years previously.”

The centre will be managed by the AHRA and Oasis Hub along with support from Onward’s Social Investment Team.

Oasis will look to provide initiatives such as parent-toddler groups, English classes, art and craft activities and school holiday provision. 

AHRA will also manage the centre in the evenings and weekends, allowing the community to use the facility to participate in activities such as karaoke, bingo and celebration events. The centre will also be available for private bookings. 

Onward’s contractors Connolly, Seddons, EFT Systems, Mainland Catering Supplies and FTD provided around £20,000 in social value through materials, equipment and labour.