New Unity Centre about to open for business

Latest News (15th October 2011)

Chester's new multicultural Unity Centre launch to take place on 29th October

Chester’s first ever multicultural centre – aptly named the Unity Centre - is about to open for business. The former local authority site at 17 Cuppin Street has been refurbished to accommodate various activities being run by local BME community based organisations.

Six locally based organisations will be housed at the Centre – Cheshire, Halton & Warrington Race & Equality Centre, Sanjhi Indian Association, Japanese Mums and Tots Group, Wah Lei Chinese Association, Xin Hua and West Cheshire Multicultural Women’s Group. Other organisations, such as Ellesmere Port Turkish Association will be using the building to offer Chester based activities and learning.

The Centre will be offering a jam packed activity schedule, including Tai Chi, training workshops, Indian dance classes as well as various advice services. It has also been approved as a ‘get online’ centre  so that people who want help accessing the internet can go to the Centre and get help and support to do so.

A formal launch and open day will take place on Saturday 29th October from 11am onwards at the Centre for people to find out more. Cllr Mike Jones will be opening the Unity Centre and there will be activities, free food from round the world, information and various workshops including candle making, mehndi and Chinese lantern making.

Shantele Janes, Director of Cheshire, Halton & Warrington Race and Equality Centre (CHAWREC) who are co-ordinating the Centre said "We are over the moon that we finally have a multicultural centre in Chester. A big thank you has to go to Cheshire West and Chester Council for their financial and staff support, without whom this would never have become a reality. We and many others have been saying for years that we needed a focal point for BME communities and now Chester is joining the rest of the country in providing a place where communities can come together. We hope that people will come and see what we’re all about on the launch day and join in the festivities".

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