Creating Services for a Pennine Community
Despite Todmorden’s rich heritage and rural Pennine location, recent industrial decline has led to the realisation of a town centre crop-in resource open to all.
In 1997 a group of Christians, aware of the needs of the local community set about creating a source of support to address the economic, social and spiritual regeneration of Todmorden. A local community café and bus and caravan sited in the market place were used to consult with local people on needs and ideas. A vacant pub in the town centre was refurbished to offer community facilities on three floors providing a drop-in café, internet lounge, counselling, youth group and much more. This year Acorn have developed the area behind the building to create a community garden.
Underpinned by Christian ethos, the Acorn Centre believes in the importance of people, their self-fulfilment and the role that they play in the regeneration of this Pennine market town. Networks exist with other faiths including the local mosque and the Buddhist community. Volunteers and centre users are of all ages, faiths and backgrounds.
In particular, the Acorn Youth Project has developed a programme of activities that are educative, promote equality of opportunity, and encourage participation and empowerment in young people. It aims to give preventative support to young people who are disadvantaged, disaffected, disengaged and vulnerable, building relationships with them and helping them develop as citizens.
Duncan Connor, Youth Work Co-ordinator comments,
“Liaison with local schools and providers of other youth activities is vital to the work and is only truly effective if the holistic framework of the centre for young people is utilised fully enabling progression from outreach and detached work to drop-in and on to youth groups and social activities, ultimately promoting an improved quality of life.”
