Active Communities offers games, food and friendship

Hunslet Rugby Foundation’s latest project is called Active Communities and all about getting people and families together, sharing some food and playing some games.

The project runs at the Welcome Centre at St John & St Barnabas Church in Belle Isle on Wednesday mornings and Friday afternoons.

Foundation General Manager Michael Nuttall explained:

“Everyone is welcome. The Wednesday morning sessions (9-11am) attract adults who are not at work, some with pre-school children, on Friday afternoon (4-6pm) there are more children as it’s after school.”

Despite its name, as a community sports organisation, Hunslet Rugby Foundation runs lots of different sporting activities. As well as sessions in local schools, they have also recently taken over running the ParkPlay sessions at Brickfield Park in Beeston on Saturday mornings.

Active Communities is another way to get out into the community. Father Chris Buckley, who is both the Vicar at St John & St Barnabas and Chair of the Foundation explained:

“South Leeds Stadium is seen as elitist by people who don’t engage with sport and it’s the last place they’re going to go, so coming out to community venues is really important.

“Anything that gets people active, anything that gets people together, anything that improves people’s wellbeing, is well within the remit of the Foundation as a community sports foundation and the remit of the church and its role in the community.”

The centre has great facilities including a kitchen and library and the church hall is spacious enough for bigger games such as dodgeball. And when the cold weather returns the project will provide a warm space for people struggling to heat their homes.

Michael is pleased with how the project has started:

“The numbers are good for the first week, the kids are smiling, come along and join us.”

The sessions run on Wednesday mornings from 9-11am and Friday afternoon 4-6pm. You can get some hot food for just £1 and there are games, activities and a friendly chat. The Welcome Centre is located at St John & St Barnabas Church, off Belle Isle Road, just above the Circus, LS10 3DN.

 

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