A new community centre opens in Leyland, offering support and a hub for local residents.

 

A regeneration project is now complete, bringing a much-needed, larger community centre to the heart of a Leyland housing estate. 

 

 

Lancashire charity Key Unlocking Futures and social housing provider Progress Housing Group have renovated two unused shops to make way for the new centre on Broadfield Drive in Leyland.

 

 

The Mayor of South Ribble, Councillor Chris Lomax, and Ursula Patten, Director of Key Unlocking Futures, officially opened the community centre on Friday, 12 January. The event was attended by residents and organisations from the local area, all of whom already use or support the original community centre. The Base I is the original community centre, located only four doors down from the new facility. 

 

 

The Base I has been running since 2018 and has engaged with over 500 families, addressing food poverty and social isolation. The centre has been a lifeline for many. Following a consultation with local residents, it was decided that a larger space would enable even more residents to access the centre and enhance its existing services and support. 

 

The new centre's official opening was a huge success, with one resident, Lou, saying: "It has been great to see so many people turn up to the opening and hear how excited they are that it is now finished. I think the bigger space will encourage more people to get involved. 

 

 

"The centre has been a saviour for me, and I wanted to give something back to my community, so I'm now starting to volunteer here three days a week and am really enjoying it."

 

 

Activities available at the new centre will include providing a larger community café and shop, a laundry facility to alleviate the financial burden of energy costs, a larger kitchen space to support eating and cooking sessions, and a hub where locals can drop in and socialise with their neighbours. 

 

 

Ursula Patten, Director of Key Unlocking Futures, whose organisation will be managing the centre, shared a few words at the opening: "I would like to thank everyone for their support in helping to deliver The Base II. I would like to especially thank Andrea, our Youth and Community Worker whose passion, energy, and determination, along with our volunteers and residents, have helped bring this centre to life and continue to make a positive impact on the local community. 

 

 

"This year will be our 30th anniversary, and opening The Base II is a great start to celebrating our work with the local community."

 

 

Key Unlocking Futures is a Leyland-based charity that supports people going through tough times, providing food parcels and drop-in sessions with showers for those experiencing homelessness and counselling services for children, young people, or families in conflict.   

 

 

Key Unlocking Futures is the charity arm of Progress Housing Group, which has provided project management and funding for the new community centre along with investment made by South Ribble Borough Council, The Lancashire Environmental Fund, Key Unlocking Futures and Community Foundation Lancashire.

 

From left to right of picture: Mrs Lomax, Mayor of South Ribble, Andrea Andrews from Key, Jacqui De-Rosa CEO of Progress Housing Group, Ursula Patten, Director of Key