Pictured: Outside the new Hillywood Community Centre on the opening day
On Thursday 7th March an exciting new community centre opened its doors for the first time. The Hillywood Centre on Hillside Avenue, was officially opened by Stephen Wright, Chris Kirkland, Steven Gerrard and Joe Corrigan of Liverpool Football Club. The High Sheriff of Merseyside, Peter Toyne, was also present, seeing for himself just what the commitment and hard work of local people has achieved.
The Centre was filled to bursting point as local residents came to see for themselves the work that had been carried out converting the former Childrens’ Society premises to a youth and community centre.
Hillywood is one of nine satellite centres funded and run by the Huyton Community Partnerships and is part of their ongoing strategy to provide educational and recreational facilities through all the communities of Huyton. The Hillywood centre includes a computer suite, pool tables, childrens' play area and an American-style diner.
The centre also boasts an after school club, Mums and Tots, a weekly youth club for 13-19 year olds every Wednesday and Friday evening, and a Credit Union. In addition, staff are on hand to offer advice and guidance on a wide range of issues.
Speaking at the opening, Partnership Chief Executive Carol Evans told Huyton Today, “We are all very proud of this new facility. It has been 18 months in the planning and local people have done all the work. It is one of the spin-offs from the roadshows the Partnership took around Huyton two years ago. We asked local people what they wanted, and this is the result.”
Facilities at Hillywood are directed primarily at the young people of the area, some of whom have been actively involved in the setting up of this facility. The efforts of five boys in particular, who put a great deal of time and effort into the decorating and fitting out of the centre, were recognised during the opening ceremony when they were presented with certificates by Stephen Wright. The boys, Alan Goulding, Mark Courtney, Anthony Allen, Stephen Greenwood and Liam Traynor are all employed by the Community Partnerships and will now be working in the community.
The project is being run by two trainee Project Managers, Teresa Cuddy and Berna Thompson. Berna told Huyton Today, “The community is made up with the new centre. It hasn’t been imposed on them. It is a building that they have been involved in right from the very beginning and can be very proud of. It’s an exciting project that that will let the young people of the area recognise their potential. It's just what this area needs.”