Exciting times ahead as the High Street Centre begins a new chapter

WE’RE EXTENDING OUR WARM WELCOME

Exciting times ahead as the High Street Centre begins a new chapter  

In March 2021 the High Street Centre in Rawmarsh, Rotherham finally opened its doors following a new £400,000 development project, which meant great news for even more people living in the area.

“Extending Our Warm Welcome” has seen facilities improved making the building more welcoming, accessible and useable for everyone using the building whether that is members of the church or any of the community groups and individuals who visit.

“The whole philosophy of the High Street Centre is that it belongs to everyone in Rawmarsh and Parkgate – it’s their building at the very heart of their community,” said Caroline Langston, Centre Development Manager. “We’re hoping that the improvements will bring even more people through our doors to experience the warm welcome that we have to offer.”

The High Street Centre, which also remains the home of Rawmarsh Methodist Church, was set up in 2002 to improve the quality of life for residents in the area by providing modern, attractive and accessible premises and facilities for use by local people, supporting social, leisure, education and training facilities.  

Extensive improvements and renovations have already been made to the premises over recent years, increasing the amenities of the centre, the quality of the offer and the flexibility in how the building can be used.

However, the constraints imposed by the layout and facilities of the building as it stood affected access and the way in which staff can provide a ‘meet and greet’ to existing and new visitors – many of whom require additional help and support.  

To address these issues, planning permission was obtained for an extension to the south side of the building, replacing the existing front and side entrances – currently with no reception facilities – with a welcoming, modern and spacious reception; creating an additional small meeting room; adding disabled toilet facilities; improving access to the lift and modernising the building overall.   After a long fundraising campaign, work was due to start in March 2020 but with the lockdown this was delayed and finally began in July 2020.  

“We want people to feel at home at the High Street Centre, we want them to feel happy, safe, secure and supported – and that’s what this project is all about,” said Caroline the Centre Development Manager.

“Extending Our Warm Welcome means precisely that – improving the building, and more importantly, ensuring a better experience for all our visitors – both faces already familiar to the High Street Centre team, and also those we hope will visit us for the first time.”

As a charity, the High Street Centre relies heavily on grant funding and Caroline and the team have achieved huge success in securing funding – both grants and loans – towards the total cost of the project.

The charity’s Property Group worked with the architect and contractor – it was difficult working through the Covid-19 restrictions and was great to actually get the reception opened and we thank everyone involved.   The reception project has been a God-send and has given us great facilities to be able to welcome people back into the building in a Covid safe way.  This has been a very challenging time but we are excited about this new chapter.  

Visit the High Street Centre website or follow on Facebook, HighStreetCentreRawmarsh, and Twitter (HighStreetCentre@hscrawmarsh1); Click here to send an email for more information.