How Leeds Beckett helped create a hub for the whole community

The Community Association have continued to work with Project Office in the years that followed, including one brief to build a brand-new entrance for the original centre. Leeds Beckett student Gerson Almeida created the winning design that created a new multifunctional space and developed the existing building into a centre for health and wellbeing.

For each project, Leeds Beckett students were invited to become involved in the development of the building by Leeds Beckett University’s Project Office. Project Office was set up by architecture lecturers Simon Warren and Craig Stott as an architectural consultancy to give students a chance to work with real clients.

The New Wortley Community Centre officially launched on Saturday 6 May 2017, with services including meeting rooms, a café and a shop. A total of 196 people were involved with the project. From New Wortley residents, to students and staff from Leeds Beckett and professional consultants and contractors.

The impact

The centre is well used by residents and provides a range of activities, including volunteering, adult education, and health and wellbeing support. In 2018, the project was listed as one of the UK’s 100 best breakthroughs for its significant impact on people’s everyday lives by Universities UK.

The centre’s annual turnover rose from £80,000 to £623,000 and the number of paid staff increased from two to 21. The centre continues to make an impact on the local area, it’s a place people can receive substance dependency support, learn new skills and get access to job opportunities. It also gives young people a place to go, reducing the risk of antisocial behaviour.

More recently, Leeds Beckett worked on another project with New Wortley Community Centre. This time, the brief was to create a new and inviting entrance to the existing centre building. Transforming the entrance area with a welcoming reception space, students from Leeds Beckett took a sustainable approach, using recycled materials to build the new entrance. This encourages more people from the community to make use of the centre.

Craig Stott, Senior Lecturer and founder of Project Office said: “My work at Project Office is important to me as we’re creating spaces while educating students and empowering the local community. We’re building a force for good. Leeds Beckett isn’t the only university doing it, but we’re leading in terms of impact.”

12 years ago, New Wortley was the most impoverished area in Leeds. 34% of people were claiming out of work benefits and the needle exchange was the city’s most heavily used. New Wortley is no longer classified as the most deprived area in Leeds, average life expectancy has improved, drug abuse has declined, and unemployment has decreased. Clearly, it’s not just the work of Project Office and one new building that has had such an impact, but it is a significant component in the midst of tremendous work being implemented by a range of committed individuals and local groups.”

Andrea Edwards, CEO at New Wortley Centre said: “Over the years, the relationship between the community centre and the team at Project Office has provided many mutually beneficially opportunities for the local community and Leeds Beckett students. Taking the time to support students and to understand the inequalities faced in challenging communities has really inspired some innovative projects.

We are always looking at ways to support each other's work and are currently looking at exploring a new project – a portable classroom for children and young people. A space they will help design, a space that will help them thrive.”

The future

Project Office continues to work closely with New Wortley Community Centre. The community is looking for support designing a new space, where adults can learn new skills throughout the day, that can be transformed into a youth club zone in the evenings. The impact is clear, creating spaces while educating students and empowering communities.