Foundry Street Community Centre: July 2025 Newsletter

July newsletter 2025

Hello everyone,

July has been a busy month at Foundry Street Community Centre, from policy reviews and community events to exciting upgrades in the building. Thank you to everyone who has helped, visited, or taken part this month. Here’s a round-up of what’s been going on.

Meetings & Policy Updates

  • Trustee Meeting: Monday, 7th July
  • Management Meeting: Monday 21st July
  • Policies reviewed this month include:
    • Fundraising and Gift Policy: updated and circulated for approval.
    • Staff Discipline and Grievance Policy: reviewed.
  • Coming up in August: review of the Volunteer Policy and a draft Customer Acceptance Policy from Sheila.

Marketing & Publicity

Social Media

  • Facebook Group: 893 followers (up from 884 last month), mainly used by our user groups to advertise events.
  • Facebook Page: 92 followers (up from 81 last month).
    📌 Follow and like us here: Foundry Street CC Facebook Page

Community Events

  • Sunday 6th July: Great Get Together, Crow Wood Park
    We had a stall to showcase our work, meet residents, and connect with potential user groups. Around 50 visitors stopped by, including the Mayor and Kate Dearden MP. We also explored the idea of an Artisan Market at Foundry Street in the future.
  • Saturday 19th July: Tesco Sowerby Bridge
    Similar to our Great Get Together stall, but focused on reaching people in our immediate area. Over 40 people came to chat. Some remembered the building as a youth club, and others were keen on our activities.
    Special thanks to Cindy’s Silver Stompers and Carolyn (who runs our Monday Chat Room seated exercise) for helping out.

Building Maintenance & Upgrades

Internal Work

  • Painting has begun on the stairwell and landing.
  • Repairs to the windowsill under the stained-glass section are now complete and ready for painting.
  • Major kitchen refurbishment work:
    • Old, uneven flooring removed and replaced with level marine ply ready for tiling.
    • Drainage re-piped for proper flow, with a new external drain for the handwash sink.
    • Full electrical rewire, sockets moved, old cooker points removed, cables recessed and replastered.
    • Specially cut units and worktops to fit the non-square corner.
    • Shelving added next to the fridge/freezer housing.
    • Central strip light replaced with 6 new downlighters plus an emergency light.
  • Skip used to clear old rubble and unused equipment from storage areas.
  • The faulty PIR sensor in the office was replaced after an intruder alarm issue.

External Work

  • Council replaced the leaning barrier outside the front door.
  • Awaiting railing repairs on the exit ramp from the Eric Taylor Lounge.

Grants & Future Plans

  • Trustee Andrew is exploring grants for:
    • Stained glass windows on the landing
    • Replacing the stair lift.
    • Strengthening roof trusses.
  • Curtains for the Eric Taylor Lounge have been delivered.

Regular Users: July

  1. Sowerby Bridge Boxing Club
  2. Sowerby Bridge Karate Club
  3. Sowerby Bridge Table Tennis (Shirley)
  4. Thursday Table Tennis Club
  5. Northern Star, She Kicks
  6. Cindy’s Silver Stompers
  7. Sweaty Mama’s
  8. Keep Active Fitness
  9. Language for Fun, Spanish Lessons
  10. Language for Fun, French Lessons
  11. Narcotics Anonymous
  12. Yoga with Deb (Tuesday)
  13. Yoga with Audrey Smith (Thursday)
  14. Unmasked Mental Health
  15. Big Hugs
  16. Tai Chi
  17. Chat Room & Family History Session
  18. Art Therapy
  19. Tai Chi for Dementia
  20. Medicine Drum Journey
  21. Youth Justice Team
     

Non-Regular Users & Special Bookings

  • Sowerby Bridge Town Board Meeting: 1st July
  • Reed Wellbeing: 6 Diabetes Prevention Sessions.
  • Jewellery Making: Saturday 5th July
  • Spanish Visitors: Two groups (14th to 20th & 21st to 27th July) joined Spanish lessons and Cindy’s Silver Stompers. 

Read more about it on our website: https://foundrystreetcc.org.uk/community-news/foundry-street-welcomes-visitors-spain-cultural-exchange

Free Session: Sowerby Bridge & Sowerby Wellbeing – 15th July

Coming Up

  • Seated Stompers: starts 8th September, run by Carolyn via Cindy’s Silver Stompers.
  • Possible Badminton Sessions: Beginners, Open, and Over 50’s groups planned (we need someone to run them; if you are interested, please email info@foundrystreetcc.org.uk).
  • Trustee Kirsty is leading a project to hold a Christmas Fair in the hall.
  • Wine Tasting Evening: Date TBC.

Volunteer Thanks

  • Trustee Hours: 128.5
  • Volunteer Hours: 39.75
    A huge thank you to all who help keep the centre running. If you’d like to get involved, email info@foundrystreetcc.org.uk.

Community Connections

  • Ongoing contact with Sowerby Bridge Rotary, hopefully planning for an open day to celebrate the new kitchen.
  • Continued involvement with the Great Get Together group.
  • We have put our name down to help at this year’s Rush Bearing event. Still to be confirmed. 

💬 Stay Connected
Thank you for supporting Foundry Street Community Centre. Together, we’re building a stronger community space for everyone.