St George's Community Centre
Address:
Broadway, Lupset, Near Wakefield WF2 8AA
Co-ordinator: Lesley Wagstaff
Telephone: 01924 369631
E-mail: learning@stgeorgeslupset.org.uk
The St George's Community Project has been serving the people of Lupset since 1997. It is a church and community project, which is run by a social enterprise, the Lupset Community Centre Association Ltd, (LCCA Ltd). This was established in 1999. It has been a registered charity since 2002. Its directors and trustees are drawn from the local community and St George's Church.
Since 1997, the project has directly attracted over £3m to the local economy. Most of this has been related to the creation of jobs and the delivery of services. Its turnover, annually, is in the order of £700,00. By December 2004, the project had...
- Created 36 jobs for local people;
- Provided around 80 pre-school, nursery places at 3 locations, and in 2 Neighbourhood Nurseries;
- Helped to create and house the first pre-school library in the whole country;
- Provided a place in which local groups can meet and plan;
- Managed, and ensured delivery of, an adult education programme within the local community;
- Developed a range of activities to promote Lupset Healthy Living Centre, including healthy eating, gentle exercise, counselling and advice, and children's play;
- Taken charge of the first vehicles, associated with a community transport service;
- Developed and maintained important partnerships with the Wakefield Learning Network, Sure Start, EYDCP, Wakefield Library and Information Service, YMCA, Jubilee Hall Community Project, Home Start, Wakefield West PCT;
- Designed and operated sophisticated systems, policies and procedures which enable it to act as a good employer, and in such a way that its finances are managed efficiently and in a transparent manner;
The project has begun to make a difference in terms of raising heads and aspirations, helping people to build their skills and confidence, and to realise their potential. It has helped to maintain the profile of a community, which had, historically, experienced all the signs of social exclusion.
THE FUTURE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT IS IMPORTANT TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, AND TO OTHER PROJECTS AND ENTERPRISES, WHICH HAVE FOLLOWED ITS EXAMPLE OF GOOD PRACTICE. DO YOU HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN THE FUTURE SUCCESS?