Features / Greenway Community Centre
Major revamp begins for vital north Bristol community hub
Against the backdrop of forklifts, red cones and bags of gravel, excited families filter into the Greenway Community Centre in Southmead.
The centre hosts a monthly community festival that platforms community action projects alongside local goods and food.
This recent edition of the festival drew renewed focus as it marked the launch of a brand new boxing space.
is needed now More than ever
An expansion of the centre’s existing gym, the Boxing Zone, is the first step in a £2m regeneration of the community centre.
Construction is well underway at the historic Greenway Boys’ School
Joel Davies, 37, has been the fitness and wellbeing manager at the centre for almost two years.
He discusses the new development in-between answering the questions of eager event-goers who stream into the boxing space to view the new equipment.
Joel says that anticipation for the boxing space has been building; “on a daily basis, all I ever get asked is when is the boxing centre open?”
This year, Greenway Community Centre, run by Southmead Development Trust, received funding for this project from the Youth Investment Fund.
The project is also set to regenerate the historic Greenway Boys’ School building.
During the school’s closure in 1985, the Southmead community campaigned to have the site saved as a community space.
It has served as part of the Greenway Community Centre since.
Brand new equipment lines the walls of the boxing space
The revamped site will now be named Green Rooms. The Green Rooms will include a new 60-seat event space alongside six therapeutic rooms.
Suzanne Daggar, 55, has worked as the communications manager at the centre for 11 years and passionately describes how the trust’s core mission is to “help young people and children thrive.”
The Green Rooms, opening July 3, will focus on providing therapy and event spaces for local children and young people.
The space will enable children and young people to be referred by their GP, schools or family to attend one-on-one therapy and group sessions and to participate in play activities.
When asked if Southmead is in need of this kind of project, Suzanne says, “Absolutely, that is what we live and breathe, that is why we are here”.
Lucille Smith and Ella Tainton showcase the centre’s first-ever seed swap
Mirroring this sentiment, Joel reflectively says that the boxing space is an “Important first step as all the research points toward boxing being such a positive thing both physically and mentally for young people”.
Lucille Smith, 47, who works as a community development manager at Greenway, beams when she says, “Every day, someone tells me how important Greenway Community Centre is to them to have somewhere to go where they feel safe and welcome.”
The hope for the project is to enhance the centre’s ability to cater to the needs of Southmead residents and prevent social isolation and improve overall health.
The existing cafe, gym and main hall with its packed schedule of events already serves as a place of pride for the team at Southmead Development Trust, who feel that their work has enhanced the lives of those in the community, and are now excited for what is to come.
Maelo Manning is reporting on Southmead as part of Bristol24/7’s Community Reporters programme, aiming to amplify marginalised voices and communities often overlooked by mainstream media. This initiative is funded by our public, Better Business members and a grant from The Nisbets Trust.
All photos: Maelo Manning
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