New women’s centre officially opens in the heart of Crewe

A new women’s centre in the heart of Crewe has officially opened its doors with a community celebration featuring a ribbon cutting, children’s activities and plenty of local support.

Her-Place Charitable Trust welcomed women, families, community groups and supporters to an event marking the official opening of the new town centre facility.

The old Tui travel shop in the Victoria Centre has been transformed into a welcoming space where women, girls and families can access support, advice and activities all under one roof.

Work has taken place over the past few months and visitors turned out in force on Saturday to see inside and meet the team behind the project including charity trustees and volunteers.

Attractions included tea and cake, children’s activities, tombola, charity stalls and the unveiling of the centre’s library, community laundrette and colourful art space.

Charity founder Kate Blakemore said: “We were delighted to welcome so many people and hear such wonderful feed-back.

“This has been a real community effort from the businesses that have supported us with donations to the local volunteers and tradespeople who have rolled up their sleeves to paint, wire, lay new flooring and prepare us for opening.

“The interest has been heart-warming and we can’t wait to begin welcoming the community to the many events and services we have lined up.”

The centre will host a wide range of services including wellbeing sessions, counselling, women’s health events, police surgeries, legal advice drop-ins and community activities.

It’s also home to a community laundrette where families cash wash their clothes for just £2 and dry them for the same price. A similar scheme is popular at Her-Place Winsford.

A programme of events is underway at the centre including #HerSocial quiz nights, relaxation evenings, ‘Sassy Ladies’ chats and ‘Meet the Author’ in the relaxing reading area.

The charity will continue to operate from Beech Drive in Wistaston which is home to its popular school uniform exchange as featured on BBC Morning Live last week.

Kate added: “We now have the space to put on more community events and expand our services right in the centre of Crewe.

“We can also host our own larger-scale events, for example, our AGM in October when we will welcome speakers and civic dignitaries.

“All will help drive much-needed footfall into the town centre.”

Support for the new centre has come from a variety of organisations and businesses including AO.com, Cheshire Lettings, Crewe Town Council, Mornflake, Radius and SP Energy, YMCA GLO Maintenance, National Lottery Reaching Community fund and via Bentley and the Cheshire Community Foundation.

The open day also introduced Sarah Fletcher, author of Kiss Your Life a guide to calm, and Kate, author of two books on mothering.

Kate will be in the ‘Meet the Author’ chair again on October 6.

For tickets go to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/meet-the-author-kate-blakemore-tickets-1998452680765

To support the new centre email events@her-place.co.uk or call 01606 557666.