Our History

The building, formerly part of the school, was in poor condition and required significant investment. With limited resources available, the centre relied heavily on grant funding during its early years. Support from the Big Lottery Fund (now the National Lottery Community Fund) enabled the delivery of a wide range of projects designed to improve health, education and opportunities for local people. Particular emphasis was placed on supporting children and young people through activities that encouraged learning, confidence and personal development.

The centre also successfully delivered a number of employment initiatives, including the Government’s Future Jobs Fund. This programme created valuable work opportunities for unemployed young people aged 18 to 24, helping them gain experience, develop skills and move towards long-term employment.

As the original lease approached its final years, securing the future of the centre became a priority. In 2017, following years of planning and negotiation, Chickenley Community Centre successfully completed an asset transfer of the building from Kirklees Council. This landmark achievement ensured the long-term future of this important community facility and gave the organisation greater control over its development and destiny.

The asset transfer paved the way for significant investment in the building. Major refurbishment works included the installation of a new sports hall floor, energy-efficient internal and external lighting, a modern heating system, improved parking facilities and the creation of a new activity room for our Building Abilities day service. These improvements built upon earlier developments completed between 2011 and 2015, which included the refurbishment of meeting rooms and toilet facilities, together with the conversion of three unused storage areas into a purpose-built youth activity space.

In 2018, the centre launched Building Abilities, a specialist day service supporting adults with mild to moderate learning disabilities. The service helps people lead fuller, more independent lives by encouraging new friendships, developing life skills and creating opportunities to participate in community activities. Using the centre’s community minibus, service users have enjoyed memorable trips to Scarborough, Manchester Airport to watch aircraft arrivals and departures, and even Disneyland Paris, creating experiences that many had never thought possible.

Like communities across the country, Chickenley faced unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout this difficult period, the centre remained open, providing vital support to local residents. Staff and volunteers distributed food parcels, essential household supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE) and practical assistance to families and vulnerable residents, ensuring that those most in need continued to receive support during an uncertain time.

As the country emerged from the pandemic and entered the Cost of Living Crisis, the centre continued to respond to changing local needs. Chickenley became the pilot location in Kirklees for The Bread and Butter Thing, an affordable food club that has since expanded across the borough, helping hundreds of families access nutritious food at low cost. This support was complemented by the distribution of supermarket food vouchers, utility top-up payments and wider welfare advice to help residents manage increasing financial pressures.