A brand new charity called 'Priory Pools Community Centre' has been set up to fundraise for and build a new community centre linking the Packmores Estate and Priory Park in Warwick.

This new 'Priory Pools Community Centre' will replace the existing 'Packmores Centre' community room at Sussex Court, Lyttelton Road that local charity 'The Gap' has been running alongside residents and local partners since 2015, after being awarded the contract by Warwick District Council.

The Packmores Estate is the most disadvantaged area of Warwick and is located in the area between Saltisford, Warwick Hospital and Lakin Road.

It has been identified by Warwick District Council and Warwickshire County Council, as a priority area for a new Community Centre to help support local residents.

The current community room is not adequate for the 1,000 homes it serves, with barely space for seven people to sit down.

Due to the cost of living crisis there is an urgent need for a bigger space - the district council said.

The Packmores Residents Association is already supporting the fundraising appeal and was the first to make a donation to the new community centre (image via Priory Pools Community Centre)

A planning application for the new centre has already been submitted.

Marcos Campos, The Gap's director said: "It is great to have had the chance to develop the plans for the new community centre with local residents, who we have been working with for many years.

"We are excited that 'Priory Pools Community Centre' charity is now in place to take this forward.

"We will continue to deliver services for local residents, and look forward to being able to use this amazing new community centre in years to come which will allow us to do so much more in the local area."

'The Gap' has been working with the new charity to find a location, gain support from local councils and design plans for the new centre.

The new community centre will be built on the edge of Priory Park to provide a link between the estate and the open space with a café overlooking the play area in the park.

The trustee chair of the new Priory Pools Community Centre, and Packmores resident Amanda Burford said: "We are so excited to now pick up the reins and make this centre a reality.

"It has been a long-term dream to make this happen on the estate.

"This amazing new fully-accessible community centre will be a huge asset for the area and Warwick as a whole.

"It will be a really flexible space including interview rooms, a group room, and a large community space that can be divided for flexibility, plus a community café!

"Please go online and register your support for the plans before 1st October so we can then move on to the next stage - making the centre a reality!"

(image via Priory Pools Community Centre)

Once planning is secured the 'Priory Pools Community Centre' charity will begin an extensive fundraising campaign to raise the £2 million building costs.

Janette Eslick, Priory Pools Community Centre trustee and lead fundraiser said: "We are calling on everyone in Warwick to support the fundraising for this new centre over the coming months. The new community centre will cost £2 million and we need everyone's support.

"We are grateful to have already secured substantial support from Warwick District Council and other local trusts, with other funding discussions underway, but we do need the whole of Warwick to come together to help make this happen.

"Please follow us on social media to find out more about how you can get involved or check out our website."