Involve, a community centre based in the heart of Hunslet, is holding a fundraising day on Wednesday 3 April 2024 to support and expand the work of the centre.
Our community centre has become a valued space for the area. We currently host: a youth club; a computer group; a mental health support group; a Church; a litter picking group; a soup and roll session; an after school club; a coffee morning and a breakfast club. We have become a meeting point for various other groups.
One visitor said:
“I like visiting Involve as the people are friendly. The staff are helpful and it gets me out of the house.”
Another, referring to Friendly Friday sessions, quoted:
“I really enjoy the cake at coffee morning and the jigsaw keeps me busy. We are often visited by our local councillor, It’s good as it’s not always the same one.”
Another visitor said:
“I like coming because I can meet with the local councillor and inform him of local issues. I can catch up with the new friends I’ve made since coming.”
We have just completed stage one of our work on our back garden and look forward to being able to go out and take pleasure in the outdoor area come spring and summer. We have our first day of planting, working with staff from Starbucks coffee on Monday 15 April. The community are encouraged to join us from 10am for breakfast and gardening.
On Wednesday 3 April we will be holding our first fundraising event from 12-4pm, we hope it will be the first of many. There are many planned building works on our to do list and we are working through them, but unfortunately they are not very cheap. Our community centre is a valued space by local businesses and service users. This fundraiser is a great way to include the Community in the maintenance of the Centre.
At the fundraiser we will have lots of board games, outdoor activities, cakes and refreshments, plenty of stalls to keep you busy, a quiz, and we have some rooms to name!
We have Volunteers from the local organisations and businesses like the Community Hub & Library and many more. The ward councillors will be giving their time. The building users and service providers have all pledged their time. Hopefully Hunslet Square will be finished by then.
Chair of Trustees, Cllr Paul Wray (Labour, Hunslet & Riverside) said:
“Involve has started to go through an amazing transformation into a community centre in the heart of Hunslet. This fundraiser will be a great way for people to get to learn more about the community centre, what it can do for the people of Hunslet, but also help raise some money towards some of our projects, specifically in this case, a brand new sign for the building. I am told I am making drinks.”
Claire, Project Manager added:
“The transition from a Special Educational Provision to community centre has been challenging, but I am overjoyed to see the interest in the centre and the progress we are making. We at Involve are constantly liaising with visitors of the centre to see what they would like to do, and as you can imagine, the list is endless. We are looking forward to the fundraiser as the team have worked very hard to put this together.”
One of our volunteers said:
“I got involved with Involve through my Grandchildren attending Monday Club. It’s good to see lots of children of various ages all having fun together, doing arts and crafts as well as group games and many other activities. It would be great if some of the young people who attend Monday Club could come along to our fundraising event, as all the money raised is going towards the cost of improving the centre for them and others.”
We are very proud of our Centre and would welcome visitors. Our community centre has rooms to book at very reasonable rates. Email Claire: info@involveleeds.org.uk for more details.
Come join us on 3 April from 12-4pm, Involve Community Centre, Whitfield Avenue, Hunslet, LS10 2QE.
This post was written by Stewart Walton
Photo: Google Streetview
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