Here at the Trust’s brilliant buildings, Greenway Centre and The Ranch Adventure Playground & Youth Space, there have been a small army of builders on site for the last few months. This is because we are part way through the biggest and most ambitious improvement and investment programme we have seen for community facilities in Southmead for many years.
Greenway Centre was originally Greenway Boys School. In the 1980s the site was saved by the community from total closure to create a community space. This beloved 1940s building has a rich historical legacy but needs constant maintenance!
We have now replaced many of the original school windows, opened a brand-new snooker room, refurbished the Fitness Studio, created a modern and spacious ground floor community area, improved accessibility, and improved lighting throughout the building.
The next phase of work we are really excited about is a new boxing gym opening for April, alongside new changing rooms and toilets. Next to open will be the newly refurbished Green Rooms – the old school canteen opposite the main building. The Green Rooms will include six calm and therapeutic spaces for our work with children and families, as well as a beautifully designed large events space. We cannot wait to invite everyone to our opening event in the Spring.
At The Ranch Adventure Playground & Youth Space everyone is already enjoying our new art room, music studio, and play equipment – children and young people are already telling us how much they love the improvements and additions.
The old buildings we are working on are so important to our community but have not been invested in for many years, it is incredibly challenging with many bumps and surprises along the way. We want to thank our fantastic contractors, and our funders including Bristol City Council and the Youth Investment Fund, with special thanks to all our visitors for putting up with any disruption.
We are so excited to be opening modernised and high standard facilities in Southmead for the benefit of our residents. We have prioritised sustainability for all new elements in our buildings alongside our community Climate and Nature projects. I am on the right in the picture above, up on the roof of the Green Rooms to view the new solar array panels, alongside our talented Buildings Project Manager Katy.
If you would like to find out more about what we are doing to improve the community buildings in our care or have any questions about our Climate and Nature projects, please go to our website www.southmead.org, email us: info@southmead.org, or give us a call on 0117 950 3335.
Please watch this space for further news about our new spaces opening, and we look forward to showing you around in the next few months.