Campaign to save Wardleworth Community Centre

Save Wardleworth Community Centre meeting

Residents and committee management are campaigning to save Wardleworth Community Centre after withdrawal of funding has been proposed by Rochdale Borough Council.

Wardleworth Community Centre has been serving the local community since 1979; it is the only purpose built community centre in Central Rochdale ward.

The provides welfare benefits advice, a wide range of activities including, youths sports club, youths club, girl's sports sessions, learning club, tuition classes, luncheon club, and works in partnership with many agencies to bring their services to the community centre.

Wardleworth Community Centre Management Committee held a consultation event which took place over the weekend on Saturday 18 February. The Community Hall was packed with local residents, including the local youth, to show their support.

Chairman of the management committee Mr Choudhury said: “We are grateful for the attendance of local residents in large number giving their views and opinions to save the centre from the funding cut.

"If the centre is forced to close due to total withdrawal of all of its funding, it would lead to a devastating effect in the area. Wardleworth Community Centre is a place where community meet, share idea and resources and provide opportunities to people from all walks of life.”

One local youth, who represented the Wardleworth youth group, said: “We have no youth facilities in the area, leaving local young people with no local provision to attend. In Wardleworth we have a large youth population under the age of 16. This just goes to show how important the local youth base was for the community.

“Since the closure of the youth base on Gower Street due to funding cuts, Wardleworth Community Centre has started to engage with the youth again and have recruited a sessional youth worker which help them develop their skills and provide a platform for local young people to voice their concerns, work with local young people off the streets and away from anti-social behaviour and drugs.”

Local ward councillors attended and gave their commitment to try their upmost to protect the centre's funding and come to some kind of resolution despite the pressure of cuts and difficulties they face from the council as a whole.

Centre Manager Mohammed Miah reminded residents and members that a consultation runs until 9 March and you have a chance to state your views online in council website.

https://consultations.rochdale.gov.uk/council-wide/review-grant-funding/consultation/intro/

Alternatively, residents can come to the centre for printed copies of the consultation papers.