New £72K Community Hub opens in Salford

 

Salford residents get a lesson in saving money online – at new £72K Community Centre

Dozens of first time internet users got a lesson in saving money online when a new look community centre opened in Salford on Saturday.

National affordable housing provider Affinity Sutton, which has around 265 properties in Salford, opened a new and improved Community Hub on Saturday 5 November.

The new £72,000 centre, which is across two nearby sites, was opened by the Mayor of Salford Councillor Eric Burgoyne and has undergone extensive structural works and external decoration plus new IT infrastructure, including WI-FI capability and equipment.  The Hub, has been equipped with a large training room that can hold up to 20 people and will provide IT training facilities. While the ‘other’ centre has been fitted with a new commercial size kitchen for training purposes.

Saturday's opening included:

• A BBC First Click session targeted at first time internet users helping them learn how to save money online.
• A DIY skills session
• Manchester based REEL film company was working with young Affinity Sutton residents to film  the event and the estate
• There were lots of other activities including cooking displays, Morris dancing, face painting, arts and crafts and information stalls.

On the day visitors were able to learn how to do their shopping online, carry out job searches and manage their money better at special drop in taster sessions.

The refurbishment is part of Affinity Sutton’s national community hub programme which is part of a wider network of hubs across the country all receiving significant investment from Affinity Sutton.

Andrew Cooper, Neighbourhood Investment Manager for Affinity Sutton, said:  “We hope that the new centre will become a real ‘hub’ of the community. We want the facility to be well used by all ages for a wide range of activities for a long time to come – everything from showing people how to save money by being online, to helping people get back into work through CV workshops to IT courses.”