Community centre volunteers celebrate 10 years

Accrington Road community centre volunteers held a 10 year celebration event this weekend.

The event celebrated the successes achieved by the volunteers over 10 years and was held on the 11^th of December.

The Mayor and Mayoress along with the local Cllr Tony Humphries, opened the ceremony with a speech and talked about the history of the community centre.

Volunteers Kay and Brian and the team run the centre and have gone from strength to strength.

The volunteers received a handover of the building (under the support of the Council), in April 2011 and they formally took charge in January 2013. They then also took over the management of Little Harwood Community Centre in February 2013.

Kay Kareem the lead Volunteer said:

Local residents enjoy coming to groups in the centre and organisations are utilising the venue to deliver services helping to create a thriving community centre and building a strong local community. Thank you to everyone who celebrated with us our 10 years of success with all our past and present volunteers including the Council staff and CVS who supported us from the start. Looking forward to your ongoing support and dedication to keep the community centre successful.

The volunteers have received accolades for their work including a Community Award in 2019 for Grassroots Volunteer and winning the Lindsay Dunn Award at the Community Volunteer Awards 2021 with Neighbourhood Community Action (the collective name for volunteer managed centres).

During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the volunteers provided support in the community by providing food bags and befriending services.

Adults & Health Acting Executive Member Cllr Jackie Floyd said:

Congratulations to the Accrington Road team, who have provided support with love and care over the past 10 years. As we emerge from the pandemic, your presence within the heart of the community will be a beacon of strength. Thank you.

The centres continue to provide much needed support to local people through community activity and day care services to elderly and vulnerable people (through partnership with Age UK).

This winter they will be supporting the Blackburn with Darwen Help Hub by providing food-bags to vulnerable people and families who need extra help this season.

Any families or individuals across the borough that are in need of support, please contact (01254) 588111.