By Will Munton
Swinnow Community Centre is thrilled to announce a significant milestone of 2,500 visits since its relaunch in June, reflecting the community’s strong and enthusiastic support.
The centre has quickly become a cherished hub for local residents, offering a diverse range of events and services that cater to all ages.
A summer of success
Swinnow Community Centre‘s summer program featured a variety of well-attended events, particularly the Fun Days, which received overwhelmingly positive feedback.
An impressive 98% of attendees rated these events as “very helpful” for their families. Parents and caregivers praised the engaging atmosphere, the variety of activities, and the thoughtful inclusion of lunch for children.
Leeds Rhinos offered free rugby sessions, live music entertained locals, and well-being workshops supported around 30 young people with additional needs.
Here’s what some attendees had to say:
- “Staff are really friendly and helpful. It’s so good that the children get a lunch included too! My 2-year-old daughter loves it here!”
- “Such a fantastic event, lots of happy kids and parents. There’s a wonderful energy about the place.”
- “Great atmosphere and lots going on to entertain the kids.”
- “We’re not from the area but were visiting friends. I know the centre is vital for them. We were made to feel so welcome and the day was fantastic. All my kids had a brilliant time, thank you!”
- “My children have really enjoyed the family fun days. This is absolutely what this community needs. My daughter has been able to catch up with her school friends through the holidays as they attend these events.”
Introducing the ‘The Café’
In addition to the success of its events, Swinnow Community Centre proudly launched its new weekly café, the “The Café,” which operates every Thursday from 9.30am to 1pm.
This welcoming space has quickly become a favourite among locals, offering delicious, high-quality food at great value. In fact, 100% of café customers have praised the food as excellent, providing superb value for local people. During the summer holidays, children can eat for just £1, making it a popular choice for families.
Customers have shared their positive experiences:
- “A very welcoming space, a great setup, the food was delicious and great value for money.”
The café is part of the centre’s mission to promote community cohesion and a sense of belonging, providing a place where residents can connect over a meal.
Strong youth work provision with “The Den”
The centre’s youth group, “The Den,” has also received glowing feedback. All families involved have expressed high satisfaction with the provision, and over 80% believe it has made the area a safer place. The Den offers young people a secure environment where they can engage in positive activities and build meaningful relationships.
New partnerships and future collaborations
In an exciting development, Swinnow Community Centre has recently partnered with Pudsey Community Project to offer clothing exchange pop-ups.
This is just the beginning of what promises to be a fruitful collaboration, with plans for more joint initiatives in the near future.
The team are also working with Leeds City Council’s employability team to help people seeking employment.
Jim Bolton, Employment and Skills Advisor, Leeds City Council, said: “Swinnow Community Centre is an invaluable asset to its neighbourhood, providing a much-needed safe space for residents of all ages to gather, learn, and engage in recreational activities.
“The centre offers vital services such as children’s playgroups, youth groups, and senior citizen activities, creating a sense of community and improving the quality of life for local residents. Their dedicated staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that no one in the community feels isolated or left behind.
“As an Employment and Skills Officer on the Communities and Partnerships team for Leeds City Council, connecting with the team of dedicated volunteers has given me an invaluable opportunity to promote our services and enable local residents to access jobs, skills training and careers guidance.
“This centre is building the foundation of a stronger, more connected community and I am looking forward to working with them more in the future.”
A bright future ahead
The team at Swinnow Community Centre is deeply grateful for the community’s support and is committed to the team values to provide hope, to love people, and to serve the community.
With the ongoing backing of local people, the centre looks forward to many more successful events and initiatives in the future.
A call for volunteers
Swinnow Community Centre’s success is built on the dedication of its volunteers.
The centre is actively seeking more community members to join the team, as these vital initiatives simply cannot run without regular support.
Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to e-mail swinnowcommunitycentrecic@gmail.com to request a volunteer form.
If you’d like to support our non-profit community work financially, the team would love support from local people and business.
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