Once refurbished and opened in April, the Burnside Avenue venue will host tai chi, yoga and ballroom dancing, as well as play groups, youth clubs and karate

The new hub in Salisbury Manor Primary School in Burnside Avenue, Credit: Peabody Community Foundation

A temporary community space at Salisbury Manor Primary School is set to be turned into a permanent community centre.

Since September 2025, part of the school in Burnside Avenue has been hosting a range of local activities, after sessions previously held at the nearby Paradox Centre moved into the temporary space. Families, young people and older residents have been using it for classes, workshops and community gatherings.

With more people getting involved and demand continuing to grow, work is now under way to turn the temporary set-up into a permanent community hub for activities and events throughout the year.

The project is being delivered by Peabody Community Foundation, the charitable arm of housing association Peabody, working in partnership with United Communities and Salisbury Manor Primary School.

The hub supports activities focused on health and wellbeing, learning, family support and bringing neighbours together. Sessions have included tai chi, yoga and ballroom dancing, as well as English and maths classes. Children and young people have taken part in dance, performing arts, play groups, youth clubs and karate.

To allow improvement work to take place, the hub will close for around eight weeks from today (16th February) and aims to reopen during the week beginning Monday 13th April.

19 local groups who already use the space have helped shape plans to make it work better for long-term use.

The improvements will include a separate entrance for the community hub, new kitchen facilities and toilets, and a redesigned layout.

PCF says it has coordinated support from corporate partners to carry out the work at no cost to the school. It is also providing grant funding to help furnish the hub and support ongoing running costs.

While the centre is closed, alternative venues have been arranged where possible for some sessions while others will pause and restart when the hub is back open.

Sarah Morton, community investment manager at Peabody, said: “Ching Way has such a strong community spirit. It’s built by local volunteers and partners who really care about this neighbourhood. Having a permanent hub here means people will have a welcoming space to come together and keep that spirit growing. It’s amazing what can happen when the school, Peabody, local partners and our social value partners all come together for the good of the community.”

Emily Curtis, Salisbury Manor Primary School’s headteacher, said: “We’re proud of all that’s happened here so far and excited to see what we can achieve together once these works are completed. The upgrades will help make the Hub safer, brighter and more accessible. They’ve been designed with the groups who use the space and will support an even wider range of community sessions in the future.”

Charlie Chan, director of United Communities, said: “We love seeing what becomes possible when schools, communities and local partners come together. It’s a joy to support Peabody and Salisbury Manor as they develop a space for residents to connect and take action on things they care about.”

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