Foundry Street Community Centre Newsletter - June 2025

June_newsletter_2025_

A Quick Look Back at June

June was a productive month at Foundry Street! We hosted several important meetings, including:

  • Trustee Meeting on Monday, 2nd June
  • Management Meeting on Tuesday, 18th June
  • Community Anchor Meeting on Thursday, 5th June

The Community Anchor session was especially lively, packed with ideas on how to take Foundry Street forward. Huge thanks to Julie from VSI/VAC for her input. 

A major focus this month was prepping for the new kitchen installation. Alongside this, our team has been busy getting the stairwell walls ready for painting, ensuring the Centre continues to look its best.

Marketing & Publicity

  • Facebook Group: Now at 890 members (up from 881). Still, the main space for user groups to share events and activities.
  • Facebook Page: Growing steadily, now at 86 followers (up from 71).
  • We've started posting a regular “What’s On” update to keep the community in the loop.
  • Volunteer T-shirts have arrived! These will be used at events to make our amazing volunteers more visible and connected.

Coming Soon:
Kirsty and Stephanie are setting up a Sowerby Bridge Volunteer WhatsApp Group. This shared network will let local groups easily call out for extra help when needed. Interested? Email us at info@foundrystreetcc.org.uk.

Maintenance & Upgrades

Inside the Centre:

  • Ongoing prep work on the stairwell walls and window frames, now ready for painting.
  • Kitchen entrance from the LG Lounge was modified in early June: counter flap removed, wall made good and repainted.
  • Kitchen rip-out began on Friday, 27th June.
  • In the Eric Taylor Lounge, walls to the left-hand side of the fire exit door have been insulated and clad on the inside. 

Outside:

  • Fire escape stairs: First coat of paint completed, good progress made during dry weather.
  • Ramp railings: Local fabricators will soon remove, repair, and refit them. Painting will follow.

Thank You to Our Funders

We’re so grateful for the support we’ve received:

  • Ward Forum - Funding for curtains and a projection screen in the Leslie Godfrey Lounge.
  • Calderdale Community Grant - Funded a heat camera for the Centre, and the insulation work in the Eric Taylor Lounge.
  • Sowerby Bridge Rotary Club - Your continued support with the kitchen refurbishment is much appreciated!

Centre Users & Activities

Changes in June:

  • Sweaty Mamas will be moving to a new venue with access to other children’s groups after Friday, 15th August.
  • Narcotics Anonymous extended their hours: now 5:30 - 7:30 PM.
  • Little Dribblers have ended their Sunday sessions until September.

Regular Users:

  1. Sowerby Bridge Boxing Club
  2. Karate Club
  3. Table Tennis (Mondays & Thursdays)
  4. North Star Sports - She Kicks
  5. Cindy’s Silver Stompers
  6. Sweaty Mamas
  7. Keep Active Fitness
  8. Language for Fun - Spanish & French
  9. Narcotics Anonymous
  10. Yoga (Deb: Tuesdays, Audrey Smith: Thursdays)
  11. Unmasked Mental Health
  12. Big Hugs
  13. Tai Chi (including sessions for dementia)
  14. Chat Room & Family History
  15. Art Therapy
  16. Medicine Drum Journey
  17. Youth Justice Team

Non-Regular/One-off Users:

  • Reed Wellbeing - Diabetes sessions
  • Jewellery Making Workshop - Saturday 7th June
  • PCNs Volunteer Fair - Friday 13th June
  • Tai Chi Social - Thursday 26th
  • Community Anchor Meeting - LG Lounge, 5th June

Upcoming Events & Bookings

  • Jewellery Making - Saturday 5th July (Private sessions only)
  • Sowerby Bridge & Sowerby Wellbeing Session - Monday 22nd July, 9:30 - 11:30 AM
  • Seated Stompers - Starts 8th September (run by Cindy’s Silver Stompers with Carolyn from St Paul’s)

Enquiries & Potential Activities:

  • Creative Writing Classes - watch this space!
  • Badminton sessions - being explored by Andrew & Sheila
  • Spanish Cultural Exchange - two Spanish groups visiting in July (14th - 20th & 21st - 27th), joining in with lessons and activities

Volunteers - You’re Amazing!

A huge thank you to everyone donating their time and energy:

  • Trustees: 136.25 hours in June
  • Volunteers: 42.5 hours in June

Interested in volunteering? Email info@foundrystreetcc.org.uk

Community Connections

  • Andrew attended the Ageing Well event at Hebden Bridge Town Hall.
  • He also visited Elland Hub to observe a BSL class and made a connection with their new Chairperson, Sophie, who is keen to visit Foundry Street and explore collaborations.
  • We're participating in the Crow Wood Park Great Get Together
  • on Saturday, 19th July, we'll be at Tesco with a Foundry Street info table. Pop by and say hello!
  • Andrew also connected with Gemma Murphy at Space @ Field Lane, with a visit from their team to Foundry Street in the pipeline.

Coming Up Next

  • Complete the new kitchen installation (and any finishing touches)
  • Begin stairwell painting
  • Continue fire escape work (weather permitting)
  • Hang new curtains once they arrive
  • Promote the Centre at Tesco on Saturday, 19th July
  • Plan a Badminton Open Day

 

Thank you for being part of the Foundry Street Community. Your support, energy, and involvement keep the Centre thriving!


💌info@foundrystreetcc.org.uk
🌐https://foundrystreetcc.org.uk