BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECT
2 years ago a survey was undertaken by All Saints Parish Church into the areas of concern within the Town of Normanton, and resulted in 1500 members of the community being interviewed. The survey was conducted at various shopping areas within the Town.
The survey revealed the 4 areas of most concern were:
- Anti-social behaviour and lack of Youth facilities
- Debt and money management
- Family health and well – being
- Education and training
As a result of this, The Parish Church purchased this building, refurbished it and appointed a Community Project Manager to help establish a work initially here in Woodhouse to begin setting up a project to address these issues, and the more specific concerns of the Woodhouse community.
THE SURGERY WE GAVE TO THE OLD DOCTORS SURGERY
This building for many years was a surgery for the Woodhouse community. However, it has remained used, redundant and increasingly vandalised for e period of around 8 years.
The building had passed from the council to WDH ownership, and All Saints was approached by WDH to enquire as to our possible interest in acquiring the property, following our initial interest in the Woodhouse Library not being achieved.
Work commenced on refurbishing the property in Late July last year, and was completed early December.
Steve Owen, The works Supervisor comments:
It took over a week to clear the rubbish behind the building, including the discovery of large number of handbags and purses. The building required roof repairs and large volumes of plastering because of the amount of damp in the property.
It was the biggest refurbishment challenge I have undertaken.
WOODHOUSE STREET TEAM
About 18 months ago Gavin Budby (the Church Youth Worker), along with a number of volunteers, began a detached youth work out of the mini-bus alongside the recently demolished Woodhouse library.
This outreach became a popular meeting point for many youth from the area on a Thursday evening.
The outreach team asked the Youth ‘If you had a space to meet, what would you want to do?’
“We would like to meet somewhere with friends, that has IT and computers”.
