Pictured: Geraldine Dowling
A Wyrley Birch community centre run by social enterprise Enta
has been praised for its 'profound and life-changing' effect on
local residents.
Lakeside Children's and Family Learning Centre earned the
acclaim in a recent report by Dr Lola Abudu, a Consultant with
Public Health Birmingham, which was carried out this summer and
published in August.
The Lakes Road centre includes a 50-place children's nursery,
community Cyber café and a number of function rooms. It also
offers services such as family support and health classes; benefits
and careers advice; drug awareness and sexual health drop-in
sessions; and links to Job Centre Plus.
Over the past 12 months, Lakeside Nursery has also given
training opportunities to teenagers from the area who otherwise
would find themselves unemployed.
Dr Abudu said: "It is clear from the conversations with both
service users and community members that Lakeside is held in high
regard.
"For individual users the centre provides an opportunity to get
advice and support and, at its most dramatic, it has had a life
changing impact."
Dr Abudu's research included a questionnaire to centre users,
local residents and partner organisations.
The report revealed that residents felt Lakeside could have an
even greater impact in the future by providing additional
activities such as sports, ethnic nights, school holiday activities
for youngsters and language classes.
In response, Lakeside manager Geraldine Dowling has already
introduced free English classes for new Wyrley Birch residents.
Enta is now bidding for city council funding to make the courses
permanent.
Geraldine Dowling added: "We know that Lakeside provides a real
community hub for the area and it's great to see it recognised in
this report.
"We were delighted to work with Dr Abudu. This research will
inform Enta's future plans to provide even better services for the
Wyrley Birch area."
Enta has worked in Wyrley Birch for more than 14 years, first
with the UK Online Centre at Wyrley Hall and, since 2006, via
Lakeside.
Dr Abudu's report concluded: "Lakeside Children's and Family
Learning Centre is a valued resource for the community.
"The centre has had a profound and life changing impact on some
of the residents who have used it [and] its role in building
relationships within the community appears to have contributed to
increased community cohesion."
Enta is a social enterprise and training provider and, as well
as the Lakeside Centre, also runs Little Mill Nursery and Top Lock
Cafe, at Mill Wharf. In addition, it offers conference and catering
facilities - including a halal kitchen - as well as a landscaping
and construction service.
For more information on the Lakeside Children's and Family
Learning Centre call on 0121 386 6150.