Linda Taylor & Denise Nardone
with the new Barton Road Monday Lunch Club

Barton Road Community Centre is set to turn itself into a Social Enterprise, introducing new courses and drop-in sessions for the local community. The centre, in south Lancaster, will also be hosting its second Community Ceilidh on Saturday 23 November and a Christmas Craft Fair is being organised for Sunday 8 December. (See www.bartonroadcentre.co.uk)

The latest developments are the Monday Lunch Club,  ‘crafternoons’ (the clue is in the title!) and short computer courses. Already the centre accommodates groups such as Art4Fun, U3A Table Tennis, Knitting and Sewing Drop Ins, Lancaster Family History Group, Babies and Toddlers and much more.  The centre has a friendly and easy atmosphere with good facilities, including a computer suite, a large hall and meeting rooms (available for hire) as well as a comfortable and spacious reception room.

Last year the Centre’s Management Committee appointed a Community Co-ordinator to support its users and groups. Denise Nardone commented on her year, “I’ve met so many people who are enthusiastic and want to support the centre with new ventures.  Our events group is full of enthusiasm, I can hardly keep up with them!

“In October, we started our Monday lunch-club, offering soup and a sandwich, a brew and a natter for £2.50.  20 people came through the door, to enjoy Linda Taylor’s delicious homemade soup.  (Many people will know Linda from the Cafe at the Adult College at White Cross.)”

Hon Secretary Chris Bebbington said, “Barton Road Centre is an excellent resource to the surrounding community, offering superb facilities to support all sorts of groups. As a Social Enterprise, we’ll be able to access more funding for community projects and to support our community groups.  We also hope that the centre will become a hub for other community groups in the area.”

To find out more about what’s on, to try out the Lunch Club or one of the groups and courses, or to book tickets for the  Ceilidh, or a stall at the Christmas Craft Fair, visit the Centre website at www.bartonroadcentre.co.uk or call Denise on 01524 65622.

The Centre is also on facebook at www.facebook.com/bartonroadcommunitycentre