The Water Street Centre
If you would like to book at room for a meeting or function at the Water Street Centre, please click here
Taking a building with a long history and ……..
Class of 1909 with their teacher, Miss Cubbins
Water Street 1912 the School became a Council School in 1910
Class of 1926
Class of 1948-49, which was now the Bollington Secondary School
…..developing a Vibrant Family Centre for the Residents of Bollington
The old Water Street Secondary School is an iconic building in Bollington. Initially, BIT managed the property on behalf of Cheshire East Council (CEC) and during this time the highly successful Bollington Pre-School became a tenant on the ground floor after having to leave their former location. Later the Brownies and Guides were able to use the first floor for their weekly meetings.
Finally, in 2014 the transfer of the building and former playground from CEC to BIT eventually took place. Following this transfer the trustees brought together a group, of parents and carers, grandparents, Bollington town councillors, local school staff and other residents, to form the ‘Water Street Feasibility Working Group’.
That group organised open days and further surveys with residents and with possible service and organisation providers. These surveys showed that there was a demand for facilities and services that would help families and children in Bollington, as well as provide spaces for other organisations to use. The vision for a “Bollington Family Centre” was born.
However, by 2021 the trustees acknowledge that many new families had moved into the town, and residents have suffered the effects of the Covid19 pandemic and needs may have changed. Therefore, the BIT trustees decided to ask all residents, young and old again, if the vision for a Family Centre is still supported.
This latest survey in May 2021 was distributed in both paper form and online, which meant it could be promoted on social media, emailed to people, and would save time compiling statistics from the results. The results below cover both survey formats.
Analysis of the data findings
160 people responded
More than 90% of all 160 respondents thought the building could provide:
◦ Advice and support centre for families (47.77% said “definitely” and 42.68% said “may be needed”)
◦ Sensory sessions for families, including for children with additional needs (49.69% said “definitely”)
◦ After school & holiday provision for 0–12-year-olds (44.65% “definitely”)
◦ Learning & recreational group activities: e.g., music/language tuition; arts & crafts (54.41% “definitely” and 38.85 “may be needed”)
Over 80 % supported making the Water Street Centre available for:
◦ ‘Drop in’ crèche for 1–2-hour sessions for 0-5-year-olds
◦ Community group meetings
◦ A venue for occasional hire
There were also many suggestions on other activities and facilities that residents would like to be provided for their children or grandchildren.
Here are some of the comments:
· “Our community needs centres like this to bring people together and offer essential support to young families in an (increasingly) expensive society.
· “An after school and holiday provision would be a huge help to me. My child already attends preschool there so an after school/holiday provision in the same setting all school holidays, if possible, please.”
· “Facilities for special educational needs children
· “Sensory sessions. I'd also like to see other provision for disabled children, for example some holiday provision specifically for children with additional needs. Also, as a member of the Home Education community a space that could be used during the day as a teaching space, especially a space suitable for doing practical subjects like science and arts/crafts.”
Every single donation helps us get closer to our vision for
The Water Street Centre
Analysis of the data findings
160 people responded
More than 90% of all 160 respondents thought the building could provide:
◦ Advice and support centre for families (47.77% said “definitely” and 42.68% said “may be needed”)
◦ Sensory sessions for families, including for children with additional needs (49.69% said “definitely”)
◦ After school & holiday provision for 0–12-year-olds (44.65% “definitely”)
◦ Learning & recreational group activities: e.g., music/language tuition; arts & crafts (54.41% “definitely” and 38.85 “may be needed”)
Over 80 % supported making the Water Street Centre available for:
◦ ‘Drop in’ crèche for 1–2-hour sessions for 0-5-year-olds
◦ Community group meetings
◦ A venue for occasional hire
There were also many suggestions on other activities and facilities that residents would like to be provided for their children or grandchildren.
Here are some of the comments:
· “Our community needs centres like this to bring people together and offer essential support to young families in an (increasingly) expensive society.
· “An after school and holiday provision would be a huge help to me. My child already attends preschool there so an after school/holiday provision in the same setting all school holidays, if possible, please.”
· “Facilities for special educational needs children
· “Sensory sessions. I'd also like to see other provision for disabled children, for example some holiday provision specifically for children with additional needs. Also, as a member of the Home Education community a space that could be used during the day as a teaching space, especially a space suitable for doing practical subjects like science and arts/crafts.”