Big Venture Community Centre Grand Opening

On Friday 3rd March 2017, Kicsters, Amy and Ellie were honoured to be invited to cover the grand opening of the Big Venture Centre, formerly the Scotlands Adventure Playground.

The project to transform the Scotlands Adventure Playground started in 2012, in partnership with Big Local and the Lottery, with the aim to “Transform the Scotlands Adventure Playground into a thriving, self-sustaining social enterprise, bringing much needed services into the area and creating opportunities for local people, raising skills, confidence and employability across the area, resulting in an overall improvement in their quality of life”.

Throughout the event Amy and Ellie took photos, filmed, and interviewed those involved with the project, including Kim Payne and Louisa Edwards from CAATS, who oversaw the project, Chris Allen from Big Local, Councillor Steve Evans, local residents, and many more.

The fantastic facility has undergone a remarkable transformation from the run down building it was when the Scotlands and Bushbury Hill Big Local Partnership took on the project.

The opening of the new Big Venture Centre began with an emotional opening of the Hazel Francis Suite by the Francis Family. Hazel was instrumental in the opening of the Scotlands Adventure Playground over 50 years ago, and it was a lovely gesture to have the new community room named after her.

The opening of the Hazel Francis Suite was followed by the official opening of the Big Venture Centre by Julia Nock – Head of Assets at Wolverhampton City Council, before a warm speech from Councillor Steve Evans, who has supported the project from the very beginning.

The opening was well attended, with local residents thrilled at the centre’s opening, and excited about all of the new activities and facilities on offer.