PRESS RELEASE - Jan 08
COMMUNITY SERVICES TO EXPAND AT NEW SITE
Key community services in Central Leeds that have been unable to expand for several years due to lack of facilities and space, are set to grow substantially within the spacious new site that has been found for them.
Thanks to support from the Leeds Partnership the Bridge Street Pentecostal Church, a thriving city centre church that has been struggling to expand its community services will now be able to once it moves the former Agnes Stewart High School where building work is set to start next Easter (2008).
The Leeds Partnership, created by Hammerson UK Properties plc and Town Centre Securities plc, is to develop the church’s current site as part of its plans for the Leeds Eastgate Quarters, but recognised the valuable community work being done there. To enable it to continue and expand, the Leeds Partnership located and bought the vacant school nearby which it is holding for the church until negotiations between them are completed. Current services such as a crèche, parents/carers and toddlers, youth group, children’s groups and counselling will be enlarged and enhanced by after school clubs, out-door activities and computing facilities.
Reverend Stephen Reilly of Bridge Street Pentecostal church, comments: "We’ve been searching for years to increase the space we have available for our church and community work so that we can offer more services to people who truly need and deserve good quality support. I’m really delighted that the developers saw things the same way and could help us find this new site which will enable us to reach another level of provision.
"The building gives us a lot of scope, though the bills to bring it up to spec are likely to be substantial so we are also launching a fundraising campaign to help with essential building work and to equip the new centre."
Richard Lewis of Town Centre Securities adds, "From listening to Stephen’s proposals and looking at the track record of the community services provided through his church we felt it was important to help them find a place that fulfilled their needs and supported the wider city centre community. This complements our vision for the Leeds Eastgate Quarters, a 1.2 sq ft (100,000 sq m) retail-led development which will also include leisure, office, residential and community facilities with 2,700 associated car parking spaces as well as creating up to 600 new homes and 6,000 new jobs for the city."
Steven is also liaising with John Lewis, which is keen to work with local community groups in the run up to opening its new store on the site. Anyone interested in donating towards the project please contact Jeremy Frobisher at the Bridge Street Pentecostal Church on 0113 243 1375.