The charity linked to Oswestry’s TNS football club has signed the lease to officially take on the management of a valuable community building in the town.
The New Saints FC Foundation has signed the documents with Oswestry Town Council to oversee the running of The Centre building in Oak Street.
The building has been re-named The Centre Spot and is already thriving as a hub for youth and community activities with plans to build on this with a variety of programmes tackling physical and mental health.
The early aims for the centre are to provide youth clubs/drop-ins, play therapy, youth engagement through sport, youth music production and a space for collaborative working, with lots more ideas in the pipeline.
Gill Jones of The New Saints FC Foundation said the existing organisations based at the building including the OsNosh community food programme and St John’s Ambulance Brigade would continue to use the Oak Street building.
There are also plans for new organisations and activities to come on board making use of all The Centre Spot’s facilities including its music studio and the multi-use games area next to it.
“Our role in taking on the overall management from Oswestry Town Council will help to safeguard the future of the building and its facilities for the community of Oswestry and particularly for its young people.
“We are looking forward to working alongside all partner organisations including the current occupants and new groups to ensure that the building continues to be a resource for young people and the wider community,” she said.
The building, built by Shropshire Council on the site of the old youth building previously known as Centre North West, was opened in 2012 as a state-of- the-art youth centre.
It became the victim of county-wide public spending cuts and was taken over by Oswestry Town Council in August 2024. It will now be managed by The New Saints FC Foundation which has ambitious plans for the centre to complement its range of youth and sport activities across northwest Shropshire.
Activities include a Wednesday evening youth club in partnership with Shropshire Youth Association and a Tuesday youth café drop in. There are also Footie Families – Minis sessions for children aged 2 – 4 and All In activities for young people with special educational needs, together with a Friday Games Morning.
The building will also be designated a ‘Warm Welcome Hub’ thanks to support recently confirmed from Marches Energy Agency.
OsNosh is relaunching its community care and food share table on Fridays and these are complemented by a Foundation Friday Games Morning – open to all ages. Obertelli Play Therapy will also still be based at The Centre Spot.
New musical opportunities for young people are now available with Soundlives which is now making the most of the music and recording facilities at the centre.
The Centre Spot will host free winter holiday activities with free food, hot meals and activities for children on December 22 and 23. Booking is essential for these sessions at Foundation Events.
Gill paid tribute to Oswestry Town Council for its role in the hand-over. “The Council has been absolutely brilliant and has given us tremendous support. We very much looking forward to working with all partner organisations to further develop this wonderful asset for the town as an exemplar of great partnership working between the professional Football Club charity and the local community in which it is based,” she said.
Rooms at The Centre Spot will also be available to hire. These include an art/craft room for classes and workshops or meetings, a sports hall suitable for sports clubs but which can also be used for conferences and events, the café/foyer area, and office space.