Community centre opens in Castle (From Northwich Guardian)

Community centre opens in Castle

2:20pm Friday 19th October 2012 in News By Gina Bebbington

A NEW community centre has opened for residents in Castle and Winnington.

Age UK Cheshire has transformed the Castle and Winnington Old Friends Club, in Barbers Lane, into a hub for community groups and its own courses.

The charity was given a £50,000 grant by Waste Recycling Environmental Ltd (WREN) to help accomplish the project, which it started planning in 2009.

It was opened by town mayor Clr George Mainwaring after weeks of renovation.

Georgina Alexander-Pulham, marketing and fundraising officer for Age UK Cheshire, said: “We were delighted with the turnout for the launch.

“It was great to see so many people from the local community come together and offer such positive feedback about the building and what’s on offer.

“We are very keen to ensure that this centre is one which benefits the whole community.

“Aside from all the classes that we offer, the building will still regularly be used by ‘The Old Friends Club’ who originally owned the building and is where the name Castle and Winnington Old Friend’s club originated, and the building will also be available for hire by local community groups.”

The building is now the permanent home for Age UK Cheshire’s languages and leisure centre, open to over 55s, and also boasts a new IT suite.

The official launch day featured a display about the Old Friends Club’s 50-year history and one of Age UK Cheshire’s trustees, Rita Hollens, who had been heavily involved in the renovation project, gave a talk about the background of the club and of the building itself, which was built in 1957 and officially opened on May 17, 1958.