Cockburn Centre
The Vision
Our vision is that The Cockburn Centre will become a sustainable community business operating for the benefit of local neighbourhoods. It will deliver multi-faceted and broad ranging sport activities, led and run by local people. It will offer new volunteering and employment opportunities for excluded communities and providing new rental space for grassroots voluntary groups and social enterprises.
Aims & Objectives
Our aim is to develop The Cockburn Centre into a thriving sports and community hub, led and run by local residents and people with learning disabilities. In order to achieve this aim, our objectives over the next year are to:
- Extend the lease, which is currently 25 years to 99 years. Heads of terms have been received from Leeds City Council, awaiting final lease agreement before demolition.
- Project is fully funded now.
- Launch a new sports programme including things such as 5 a side football, tennis, badminton, volleyball, tennis, cricket etc.
- Create 7 supported employment opportunities for adults with learning disabilities.
- Maintain the Cockburn Centre Committee involving 15 local residents and key stakeholders.
- Increase the active participation in Centre activities by on average 90 people per day during the week and around 50 per day at weekends.
- Working in partnership with key stakeholders within the city including Leeds City Council, Leeds United Foundation, Luminate Group, Leeds Rhinos Foundation, etc.
- Encourage higher levels of active involvement by local residents and key stakeholders in the organisation of activities, services and events through providing 12 volunteer opportunities every year.
- Continue to develop and support local community organisations, residents, businesses and sports groups by providing any available space for hire in particular evenings and weekends (one off events, regular hot desking, conference and business space).
- Promote further community cohesion in the local area by running cross community activities and working in partnership to deliver joint services with other locations.
- Deliver financial self-sufficiency and the generation of surplus at the Cockburn Centre to support the on-going maintenance and development of the overall site and facilities.
- Community and corporate Fundraising continues.
Inclusion
The Cockburn Centre, in order to be successful, needs to be inclusive. There are so many people in the surrounding area who face inequalities and disadvantage. They are underserved by other services and have little access to opportunities on parity with others. We have built inclusivity both into the design of the building and the planning of services once the building works are complete.
Key components of our approach include:
Supported employment and volunteering opportunities at the Centre for adults with learning disabilities.
Focus on developing the facility into a Centre of Excellence for services for adults with learning disabilities.
Empowering people with lived experience to join our committee, access our jobs and volunteer with us.
Provision of multi-cultural, multi-lingual services and support for centre users.
Services and activities provided at low cost and offering subsidised rates for specific groups;
Delivery of women and girls only sessions.
Staff and volunteers trained in equality and diversity and cultural awareness
Job and volunteer opportunities will be flexible and designed to align with the needs of people with disabilities, those with caring responsibilities;
Planned Outcomes
People with learning disabilities will have increased quality of life
By 2027, 40 adults with learning disabilities will have accessed our day opportunities every week
By 2027, 8 adults with learning disabilities will have accessed supported employment placements in the centre
By 2027, 80% of adults with learning disabilities are reporting improved independence and quality of life
Local people’s health and wellbeing is improved
By 2027, 4,000 local people will have used health and wellbeing services at the centre
By 2027, 80% of centre users report improved health and wellbeing
Local people are more physically active/able to maintain high levels of physical activity
By 2027, 4,000 local people will have used the centre
By 2027, 80% of centre users report increased physical activity/improved ability to maintain high levels of physical activity
Community cohesion is improved
By 2027, 4,000 local people will have used the centre, mixing with people from different backgrounds and communities
By 2027, 80% of centre users report increased respect, understanding and tolerance of different groups
Young people have better access to sports and personal development opportunities
By 2027, 2,000 young people will have used the centre
By 2027, 80% of young centre users report improved access to sports and personal development opportunities
By 2027, 80% of young centre users report improved levels of physical activity
By 2027, 80% of young centre users report improved skills, confidence and self esteem
Local people have increased access to jobs and improved skill
By 2027, 7 new jobs have been created
By 2027, 8 supported employment placements will have been created
By 2027, 36 volunteer roles will have been created
By 2027, 500 local people will have accessed employability support, training and education
By 2027, 80% of those accessing these services will report increased access to the labour market
Local organisations have increased capacity to deliver sport and wellbeing activities for local people
By 2027, 50 organisations are using the new facility
