Pelican Centre on springboard to success

14 Nov 2018 08:11

Tyldesley-based community fitness centre, The Pelican Centre, is to get an upgrade worth nearly £100,000 thanks to winning a national competition for charities.

The centre was one of only 150 organisations to benefit from a Garfield Weston grant, being chosen from more than 2,000 hopefuls and will be celebrating with a Grand Re-opening once the work has been completed.

The Pelican Centre, on Castle Street, was established just six years ago following the closure of the much-loved Tyldesley Baths. Following a community outcry, the centre was given a Sports England grant to renovate and improve the facilities – but they didn’t stop there.

Over the past six years, The Pelican Centre has been dedicated to serving the local community, by taking such actions as providing free showers for homeless people in the area and providing disadvantaged families with swimming equipment.

During her time at the centre Natalia Stothard, Business Manager, has been fighting for more funding to further improve the facilities and make it more enjoyable and accessible for the local community.

She said: “It is an exciting time for the Pelican Centre with new developments including a reception and poolside refurbishment, all thanks to a grant from the Garfield Weston 60th Anniversary fund”.

Over the coming weeks the centre will see many changes, including a full renovation of the reception area, a re-decoration of the poolside and an expansion for the gym facilities; to be more modern and accessible for the local community.

The work should be completed towards the end of December, after which neighbours and other residents will be invited to come along to the Grand Reopening and see what it has to offer or how they can get involved.

The Pelican Centre is committed to becoming a community hub for Tyldesley and the surrounding towns, providing a fun, carefree environment to relax and have a good time.

Natalia added: “The renovations are all centred around making the Pelican Centre more accessible for the local community.

"We are making the gym facilities bigger, improving the poolside and adding exercise equipment which are accessible for all residents.”

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