£30,000 Pride of Place grant used to install new central heating and flooring in Barnsley community centre
Worsbrough Common Community Centre is a warmer, more welcoming place thanks to a £30,000 refit funded by a grant from the Pride of Place initiative.
Members of Worsbrough Common Community Association and community centre users, photo courtesy of Barnsley Metropolitan District Council
The community centre was one of 11 community groups and organisations across the borough who shared in almost £100,000 awarded last March. The Pride of Place initiative aims to empower local communities and enhance their living environment, fostering social and economic benefits. It is part of the wider UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The community centre in Worsbrough hosts a range of activities and groups, including art, fitness and well-being. It also has an annual summer gala. In addition, the centre is the base for the local authority’s Barnsley Central Area Team and provides meeting room facilities to the local community.
Thanks to the funding, new central heating and flooring have been installed at Worsbrough Common Community Centre. By replacing carpet tiles with modern flooring, there are fewer trip hazards and cleaning is easier.
With the new heating system, the centre is warmer, more comfortable and more inviting, for all community members to enjoy. The new system enables different parts of the building to be set at variable temperatures which improves efficiency and so reduces energy bills. It can also be remotely controlled by the centre’s trustees.
In Barnsley, the Pride of Place initiative was delivered by the council’s stronger communities team, which to date has supported more than 50 community groups and charities to invest a total of £547,124 in facilities, services and the environment.
Vera Mawby, Chair of Worsbrough Common Community Association, says: ‘We are so grateful for the grant from Barnsley Council, which has helped us to bring our facilities up to date. The centre is amazing now – the new flooring is a big upgrade on what we had before, and the heating system is wonderful.
‘The feedback from our members has been overwhelmingly positive. The warmer and more inviting atmosphere has already made a difference in attendance and participation. We believe the people of Worsbrough Common deserve the best and thanks to this grant, we now have it!’
Cllr Wendy Cain, Cabinet Spokesperson for Public Health and Communities at Barnsley Metropolitan District Council, adds: ‘Our Pride of Place scheme is all about empowering our community groups to invest in what they need to make lives better in Barnsley. Investing in our community spaces is essential for fostering a sense of belonging and ensuring that all residents have access to safe and welcoming environments.
‘Community centres like the one in Worsbrough Common are the heartbeat of our neighbourhoods and we are proud to play a part in rejuvenating these vital facilities. I hope everyone at Worsbrough Common Community Centre is now enjoying meeting up in cosy, comfortable conditions and feel sure this investment will help the centre go from strength to strength.’
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