Foundry Street Community Centre Newsletter – April 2025

April Newsletter 2025

Hello everyone,

We hope you had a restful Easter break! Here’s your monthly roundup of all the latest goings-on at Foundry Street, from meetings and maintenance to new sessions and exciting plans for the months ahead.

Trustee & Management Meetings

The Trustees met on 7th April, and we’re pleased to share that minutes are now available. A new Management Meeting will now be held mid-month to help manage day-to-day issues. This will allow the main Trustee Meeting to focus on bigger-picture decisions and stick to the two-hour time slot. 

These management meetings will be led by trustees Sheila Eastwood, Kirsty Grogan, and Andrew Broadbent, with all trustees invited to attend if available. As always, any major issues will go to the Trustee meeting for a full vote.

Marketing & Publicity

  • Facebook activity is growing:
    • Group: 874 followers (up from 866)
    • Page: 67 followers (up from 63)
  • A new promotional folder for approaching businesses about sponsorships has been designed and printed.
  • Spring leaflets have also been reprinted to showcase current offerings.
  • A free Defib Training Session is booked for Thursday, 15th May, open to users, trustees, and the public (sponsored by Calderdale Community Fund).
  • We’ve also ordered 6 baseball caps with our FSCC logo.

Centre Maintenance & Upgrades

Internal Works:

  • Major repair work is underway on the staircase walls and ceilings.
  • Two damaged windows have been repaired.
  • Kitchen refurbishment plans are moving ahead! Appliances have been ordered, and fitting is expected around late May to early June. Huge thanks to Sowerby Bridge Rotary for funding the deposits.
  • Leslie Godfrey lounge floor sanding has been approved and will be scheduled carefully around bookings.
  • PAT testing was completed on 14th April by Chris Rhodes Electrical, with all items passing.

External Works:

  • Handrails and grab handles received a second coat of paint.
  • Persistent rodent activity in the top car park was addressed multiple times with rubble, mesh, and humane control measures.

 

Centre Users & Sessions

April was quieter due to the Easter break, but many groups continued and a few changes took place:

Changes:

  • Sowerby Bridge Boxing cancelled Sunday sessions but extended Wednesday times.
  • Willow Park PE ended after their 6 week trial.
  • Active Fitness added a new Friday session.

Regular Users (24 groups) include:

  • Yoga, Table Tennis, Karate, Keep Active Fitness, Narcotics Anonymous, Art Therapy, Unmasked Mental Health, and more.

Non-Weekly Users:

  • Reed Wellbeing held 9 diabetes sessions.
  • Tai Chi hosted a monthly social session on 24th April.

One-off Rentals (10 this month):

  • Events included Sound Baths, Labour AGM, Canoe Club planning, Adult Social Services Community Voice, Council Spatial Planning, and more.

Free Community Sessions:

  • Children’s Clothing Swap Shop and a Community Anchor meeting.

Looking Ahead

Confirmed Bookings:

  • Medicine Drum Journey (starts 3rd May)
  • Youth Justice Service (starts 14th May) 

April Volunteer Hours

A heartfelt thank you to all our amazing volunteers!

Role

Hours

Trustees

128.5

Volunteers

16.75

Want to get involved? Email us at info@foundrystreetcc.org.uk 

 

Partnerships & Community Connections

  • We're continuing to work closely with Sowerby Bridge Rotary on the kitchen project.
  • Sheila Eastwood Foundry Street Chair & Hire Management is speaking at the Sowerby Bridge Rotary meeting on 19th May to share the history of the chapel.
  • We’ve attended Calder & Ryburn meetings, including sessions about Community Anchor work.
  • New links are being built with Space @ Field Lane and Crow Wood Park’s Great Get Together.

 

What’s Next?

Here are our key priorities for the next few months:

  • Kitchen installation and delivery of appliances.
  • Wall insulation for the Eric Taylor lounge.
  • Curtains for Leslie Godfrey lounge.
  • Stairwell decorating continues.
  • Outdoor work as weather permits.
  • Floor sanding in the Leslie Godfrey lounge.
  • Schedule 5-year electrical test and gas pressure testing.

 

As always, thank you for your support. Foundry Street continues to grow as a vibrant, welcoming space thanks to everyone who gives their time, energy, and ideas.


The Foundry Street Community Centre Team
info@foundrystreetcc.org.uk