Foundry Street Community Centre Newsletter – February 2025
A Busy Month at the Centre!
February has been full of activity, with plenty of changes (version 7 of the calendar was hand-altered to avoid version 8!). Alongside finishing the Leslie Godfrey Lounge, we tackled many odd jobs and general maintenance to keep the Centre running smoothly.
The weather was typically cold, though we saw a sudden warm spell around 21st February, hopefully the first signs of spring and some relief on heating costs!
The Trustees' meeting took place on 3rd February, with the next scheduled for 3rd March. We reviewed and updated our Governance and Financial policies to better reflect how we operate today.
Marketing & Publicity
🎙️ We recorded a podcast with Nicola Slingsby from Disability Partnership Calderdale on 17th February. Once edited, this will be published on our website. Nicola also had a tour of the building and is exploring opportunities to bring missing community meetings to Sowerby Bridge, using Foundry Street as a hub!
📢 Social Media
- Our Facebook group continues to thrive, mainly used by our user groups to promote events. We’ve grown to 842 followers (up from 825 in January)!
- Our Facebook Page is steadily growing, with 56 followers so far.
Maintenance & Upgrades
🛠️ Internal Work:
- The Leslie Godfrey Lounge is now complete, apart from a few minor snags.
- New fob access system installed by Halifax Security at the Undercroft entrance, Leslie Godfrey entrance, and Hall entrance. This has been well received, especially by groups with young children.
- Fire extinguishers serviced
- A lockable notice board was installed for the Boxing Club.
- The kitchen window frame has been prepped and given two coats of gloss in preparation for the new kitchen installation.
💡 External Work:
- New LED floodlights installed at the entrances—these stay on overnight, improving security and visibility.
- Defibrillator cabinet installed on Waterloo Street and registered with The Circuit. Training is being arranged.
- Another litter pick and sweep-up around the building to keep the area tidy.
New & Regular Users
🎨 NEW! Art Therapy Sessions – These one-to-one therapy sessions using art as a communication tool started on 5th March in the Undercroft.
🥊 Willow Park joined for boxing sessions and loved the facilities so much that they’ve booked a Tuesday PE session for a 6-week trial.
📚 Chat Lounge & Family History – Growing in popularity, this now runs every Monday in both the Eric Taylor Lounge (chat) and Leslie Godfrey Lounge (Family History). We’re seeing 10+ attendees regularly!
👶 Big Hugs – Kirsty has shifted her focus to school holiday sessions after running three busy sessions over Half Term.
🏉 King Cross Rugby Under10s moved training outdoors, making space for Triangle Ladies Cricket Softball practice.
Regular Users This Month
📌 A mix of fitness, sports, language classes, and mental health support groups at the Centre, including:
🥊 Boxing Club
🥋 Karate Club
🏓Table Tennis Club
⚽Northern Star – She Kicks
⚽Northern Star – Little Dribblers
💃Cindy’s Silver Stompers
💦Sweaty Mama’s
🏋️♀️ Keep Active Fitness
🇪🇸Language for Fun – Spanish Lessons
🤝Narcotics Anonymous
🧘Yoga (Deb on a Tuesday)
🧘Yoga (Audrey Smith on a Thursday)
💙Unmasked Mental Health
💜Forget Me Not
🤗Big Hugs
☯️Tai Chi
🏉 King Cross Rugby League Under 10s
💬Mental Health Women’s Support Group
🥊Willow Park Boxing Club
🎽Willow Park PE Sessions
🏛️Over 55’s Group Chat & Family History
🎨Art Therapy
🎟️ One-Off & Non-Regular Events
- Diabetes support sessions by Reed Wellbeing
- 👚 Clothing Swap Shop (27th February)
- 🧘♂️ Tai Chi social session – members met for a chat before their regular class!
- Substance Abuse Open Day hosted by PCN
- 🏠 Shared Lives group meeting (18th February)
📅 Upcoming Bookings
🍷 Wine Tasting Night – 29th March at 7pm
💆♀️ Sound Bath – First session on 1st April
🚣 Halifax Canoe Club Planning Meeting – 5th April
🗣️ Adult Social Care Community Voice Drop-In – April TBC
🧘♀️ Tai Chi for Dementia – Starts 9th April
🏛️ Spatial Planning Calderdale Council Drop-In – 16th April
📱 NHS App Help Desk Session – Thursday, 28th March, from 2:00 to 5:00 PM.
💡 Possible Future Sessions
Italian Lessons -TBC
Spanish Visitors – A group of Spanish adult students may visit in July to experience our Spanish lessons firsthand.
February at a Glance
📊 Centre Activity Overview:
- Trustee hours: 121.5
- Volunteer hours: 26.5
- Group sessions: 213.75 hours
- Contractor work: 40.25 hours
- Total people through the doors: 1209! (Almost breaking our October record!)
🔨 Upcoming Projects:
✅ Continue decorating the kitchen (ceiling and walls)
✅ Stairs & landing painting
✅ Finalising kitchen refurbishment costs
✅ Deep clean of Eric Taylor Lounge & trestle tables
✅ Fire & intruder alarm service
✅ Planning a volunteer day to help spruce up the Centre!
🎉 If you’d like to get involved with Foundry Street Community Centre, please contact info@foundrystreetcc.org.uk or visit foundrystreetcc.org.uk.
Thank you for being part of our community! 💙
