Community Group of the Year nomination – West End Centre

Community Group of the Year nomination – West End Centre

A community centre-based charity in the heart of Stoke-on-Trent is providing a hub for local people to gather, socialise and receive support.

The West End Centre is located on London Road, Stoke and delivers purposeful services and activities to the community throughout the week. It was established at the end of 2016 and has evolved into a space that provides a wide range of services and support including a community lounge, Meet and Eat, homeless support, food bank, after school clubs and a food pantry.

It’s a welcoming, warm and safe place for individuals and groups from the local community. With three full time staff, the West End Centre relies heavily on volunteers who in turn are supported by the charity in gaining the skills to help to find employment opportunities.

The West End Centre is seen as a one-stop-shop of community kindness, with an ethos to involve, encourage and inspire. It’s a place where the local community can learn new skills, obtain help and advice but most importantly have fun and make new friends.

The West End Centre has been nominated in the Community Group of the Year category of the Your Heroes Awards.

As the nominator said: “The West End Centre goes above and beyond to offer support for everyone that comes through their doors.”

Sarah Mason is the Community Support and Engagement Worker at the charity and has been there for almost a decade. She is justly proud that they provide support for all members of the community, regardless of their personal situations

Sarah said: “This has never been a 9-to-5 job for me. It’s not even a job to me, it’s a passion. I feel that me and the team and our brilliant volunteers really do make a difference and we all get so much satisfaction from what we do. It would be fantastic if we could get even more volunteers to come and join us.

“We never turn anyone away and are always there for anyone who needs our support. My whole family gets involved. That’s how much the West End Centre means to us.”