THE redeveloped Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub and Stockton Heath Library operated by LiveWire have both been nominated for top industry awards.
The two facilities, which LiveWire operate on behalf of Warrington Borough Council, are nominated in the ‘Capital Investment’ category at the 2020 Community Leisure UK Awards.
Community Leisure UK is the national body that champions the work done by not-for-profit leisure organisations like LiveWire, and the annual awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of such organisations.
In announcing the nominations for the Capital Investment category, Community Leisure UK said that “trusts recognised for their capital investment have clearly articulated and evidenced the impact of such investments for their local communities.”
Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub was last month named the first public building in the world to receive the University of Stirling’s Gold Award for Dementia Design. The state-of-the-art community facility was extensively redeveloped and includes a 21st Century library offer, refurbished swimming pools, tennis courts, conference facilities, football pitches, group fitness studios, a gym and a luxury health and wellness spa.
The facility’s dementia-friendly features include natural and artificial lighting, signage and floor finishes, accessible toilets and a ‘quiet room’ as well as a dementia friendly exercise class, a ‘quiet’ hour in the gym and designated swim sessions for people living with dementia and their carers. Staff have received special training in order to raise awareness of dementia and the impact it can have on people, their family and friends.
Stockton Heath Library reopened in September 2019 following a 12-week, £195,000 redevelopment that saw it become the borough’s first dementia friendly stand-alone library.
The building was the first of the town’s libraries to benefit from Warrington Borough Council’s £1m library investment programme.
Improvements included lighting replacement, redecoration, a new kitchenette for community use and reconfigured internal spaces.
Emma Hutchinson, Managing Director of LiveWire, said: “LiveWire is extremely proud that both Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub and Stockton Heath Library have been nominated for a Community Leisure UK award.
“A great deal of hard work has gone into both of these redevelopment projects by LiveWire, Warrington Borough Council and their partners, and the resulting redeveloped sites are proving fantastic and much needed assets for their local communities.
“Both Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub and Stockton Heath Library have been designed to offer a friendly and comfortable environment for everyone, including those with dementia. It is very gratifying that both are getting recognition nationally through award nominations such as this”
Warrington’s cabinet member for leisure and community, Cllr Tony Higgins, said: “Our investment in libraries, along with the development of neighbourhood hubs is an important part of the work we are doing to support our communities, and it’s making a real difference to local people.
“I’m delighted that two of our successes, the new Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub and the revamped Stockton Heath Library, have been finalised for this national accolade. It’s deserved recognition for the work that has been carried out to deliver two fantastic schemes which have become true community assets.”
The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Wednesday, May 20, at the Museum of Science and Industry.
