A ribbon cutting ceremony heralded the official opening of Big Help Project’s latest venture in Knowsley.
On 7 June, Big Help Patron, The Honourable Edward Stanley cut the ribbon to officially open the centre in a ceremony attended by the Leader of Knowsley Council, Graham Morgan and Swanside and Roby ward members Cllr Colin Dever, Cllr Christine Bannon, Cllr Margaret Harvey, and Cllr Kevin Bannon.
Earlier this year, the social impact charity benefitted from Knowsley Council’s Asset Transfer Scheme which saw them take over the Roby Community Centre, extending their offer in the borough to support more households in need.
Cllr Graham Morgan, Leader of Knowsley Council said: “Big Help Project do tireless and invaluable work in our communities supporting those most in need. I am delighted that we have been able to work together to extend their reach in the Borough.
“The Cost of Living Crisis is biting, people are feeling it more than ever. The work done to support our communities – in places like the Roby Community Centre – makes an enormous amount of difference to the quality of people’s lives.”
Peter Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer at Big Help Project said: “Community is an essential part of what keeps Big Help Project and our initiatives going. We would not be able to provide such widespread and consistent levels of support to those in need without a strong foundation of volunteers from the communities in which we work.
“The opening of Roby Community Centre gives us the opportunity to work with the Roby community more closely and ensure that our services are accessible to all in the area.”.
Big Help Project have 11 years’ experience of working in Knowsley, helping residents to overcome poverty, manage their debt, help people into affordable housing and to assist people onto a better future. The charity also operates the Knowsley Foodbank, the Big Help Project Food Club and Baby Basics a scheme that provides much needed essential items and help to vulnerable groups such as teenage mums, asylum seekers and women fleeing domestic violence and trafficking.
The organisation plan to offer a wide range of services from Roby Community Centre, based on their already successful projects in other parts of the Borough, in order to deliver the best programme for the local community. The charity has already launched their Food Club at the centre and begun some wellness sessions, including their first ‘yoga taster with Yoga Nation. Local residents will be kept up-to date as more projects launch at the centre.
For more information about what Big Help Project does in the community, and to find out more about the different ways to fundraise for the charity, visit: www.bighelpproject.com