Smethwick community centre celebrates 26th anniversary with £375,000 funding boost

A Smethwick community centre has received a funding boost of more than £375,000 as it celebrates its 26th anniversary.

The Dorothy Parkes Centre has been awarded £375,138 from The National Lottery Community Fund to help support its work over the next five years.

The funding was announced on Monday, October 12, as the centre marked 26 years of supporting the local community.

The money will help cover the centre's core running costs from January 2027 until December 2031, allowing it to continue providing vital services and activities for residents.

Open seven days a week for 51 weeks of the year, the centre welcomes more than 1,000 people each week through a range of activities, including food initiatives, gardening, wellbeing sessions, social groups, volunteering opportunities and community events.

Its work also aims to tackle issues including poverty, food insecurity, social isolation and barriers to education.

Robert Bruce, chief executive of The Dorothy Parkes Centre, said the funding would provide much-needed stability during a challenging period.

He said: "The money means so much to us, firstly because of how much of it there is, and also because it's across multiple years.

"It's going to give us some breathing space during some hard times and cover our core costs, enabling us to put more plans in place to become more sustainable and resilient in these challenging times.

"We're a seven-days-a-week community centre for 51 weeks every year, and our plan is to provide a safe, warm and welcoming space, and giving an opportunity for our local community to thrive and enjoy a better quality of life."

The five-year investment will help the centre plan for the future while continuing to offer a welcoming space and support for people across Smethwick.