Community Centre refurbishment on the menu in Exwick
Published: 19 August 2021
Cookery workshops and meals celebrating international cuisine are set to be on the menu at a community centre once major refurbishment works are completed.
Inclusive Exeter CIC has revealed its exciting new plans to transform Exwick Community Centre.
The works, which are now in full swing, include the installation of a commercial kitchen, LED lighting, soundproofing, improved CCTV, the resurfacing of some floor areas and a general painting and redecorating and plumbing works.
The refurbishment is being funded thanks to a £60,000 Strategic Fund grant from Exeter City Council. Work is expected to be completed by the end of November.
Muktar Ahmed, Exwick Community Centre Manager, said the refurbishment was necessary to freshen up the Centre, which had become a bit tired and run down.
“Once complete we will be in a better position to run food-related activities .This would be in the form of cookery workshops, meals celebrating international cuisine, coffee mornings and lunches for the elderly, all offered up in a safe and welcoming space for all sections of the community,” he added.
Muktar said the improvements would help Inclusive Exeter's work to address inequalities in terms of bringing together diverse groups such as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) communities, as well as others experiencing deprivation in the local area.
“By offering the workshops we will enable people with limited cooking skills to be in a better position to use affordable food, ingredients and commodities effectively rather than relying in ready meals. This, in turn can help reduce deprivation, he added.
When complete the Centre will be a much more attractive space appealing to local community groups and organisations who will be able to hire the facilities.
Exeter City Council’s Strategic Fund was launched in March to help pay for the refurbishment of community buildings. To be eligible, groups had to be close to completing their fundraising target and have their refurbishment project ‘on the shelf’ and ready to go.
Cllr Amal Ghusain. Lead Councillor for Communities and Culture, said: "Inclusive Exeter are doing an important job to address inequalities in the city and the works at Exwick Community Centre will play a big part in this.
"This is a great project and I can’t wait to see the finished centre, it will be a real asset for the local community."