A £1 million investment to refurbish seven of the city’s community centres is underway and is expected to run over a four-month period. The cost for the refurbishment is covered by the Levelling Up funding allocated to Hull City Council in 2023.
Our community centres play a very important role in Hull’s neighbourhoods as places where people can engage and socialise. However, many are not particularly inviting. Lack of modernisation means that many aren’t venues of choice for activities or to hire for private events. To make them more attractive, refurbishment is needed, especially improvements to energy efficiency and better lighting, so that they are warmer, more welcoming and comfortable.
Work has already started at the Mitchell Community Centre in Goodrich Close where single glazing is being replaced by double glazing, a high efficiency boiler, and new LED lighting. Work to the roof will be confirmed for a later date.
The works programme also covers:
- a new high efficiency boiler will be fitted at the Eastmount Community and Recreation Centre on Waveney Road
- the centre in Edinburgh Street and the Maurice Rawling Centre on Bean Street will both have new LED lighting, and their windows fitted with double glazing
- North Hull Community Centre’s North Hull Annexe on Greenwood Avenue is due to have its lighting replaced with LED lights
- the community centre on West Parade Spring Bank will have LED lights and a high efficiency boiler.
The contractors intend to carry out the improvements with minimal disruption to the centres’ many users. However, while work is in progress, centre users are advised to check that their activity is going ahead via the council’s website hull.gov.uk or search the community centre by name.
Councillor Jack Haines, Portfolio Holder for Communications and Communities, said, “Community centres have a vital role in our neighbourhoods and help to enrich local life. They mean different things to different people and are a valuable asset where people can connect for a wide range of reasons, such as for leisure activities, to celebrate, for educational and development opportunities, to socialise, or simply share information.
“Importantly, people can identify with their community centre, and this is why, as a council, we are pleased to invest in them to make sure that they are comfortable and welcoming places for people to meet and spend time.”
