Absolute Comment On Opening Of New Community Training Hub

Absolute, a Chelmsford-based sales and marketing company were interested to hear recently of the opening of one of the first facilities in Essex to give access to free services and training opportunities. Simon Burns, Minister of State for Health and MP for Chelmsford, officially opened the Parkside Community Hub in Melbourne Avenue, Chelmsford. The facility is a former NHS clinic which has been refurbished by Chelmsford-based housing association CHP to provide residents with an IT training suite, a kitchen, creche and a communal garden. The community hub is also accessible for people with a disability.

Our source at Absolute said, “We're really excited to see this facility opening. It's a really great resource which will help a lot of people to get access to training that they might otherwise not have had. It will be really well received in the community.”

Working with organisations including JobCentre Plus, the Citizens Advice Bureau, Adult Community Learning, Voluntary Sector Training, Women’s Aid, Chelmsford City Council and Essex Police, the hub aims to improve the lives of residents.

Debbie Willson, the hub’s manager, said: “We’re delighted to have officially launched Parkside Community Hub, which offers a different approach to tackling social and financial problems. The Hub provides free services and is primarily aimed at getting people involved in training so they have the confidence and skills to make long-term changes to their lifestyle.”

“It's so important for people in the community to have a place like this,” said our source at Absolute, “It can really boost the morale of young people and the unemployed to be able to increase their opportunities by using services like these.”

It is hoped the facility will help people increase skills and qualifications. During school holidays, it will also offer activities and events for young people. Part of CHP’s £10million project, which also saw the regeneration of Parkside Court, the Parkside Community Hub was part-funded by the Government’s Investing in Communities programme.