Shipley’s new multi-million-pound health, wellbeing and community centre at The Old School building on Farfield Road has revealed it will be known as ‘Farfield.’
The project which has received £3m through the Government-funded Shipley Towns Fund, will transform the way mental health and well-being services are delivered in Shipley.
A variety of health and well-being activities, along with early help and prevention support for all age groups, will be available at the state-of-the-art centre, in an inclusive, welcoming and accessible environment.
The new facility will continue to be run by well-established founding member charity, The Cellar Trust. Its mission will be to provide health and well-being support by working with a range of services from the voluntary sector, public sector and social enterprise all in one place.
The new name was shared with members of the Shipley Towns Fund board, at a recent visit to see construction progress at the site.
Cellar Trust CEO Kim Shutler said: “After careful consideration, we have officially named the health and well-being centre ‘Farfield’. The name reflects the vision of a calm, welcoming and accessible place where everyone can find support for their health and well-being.
“Farfield is inspired by the road it’s located on – embedding it within the fabric of the community, just as St. Walburga’s school was a fixture here for decades. This connection ensures that while the purpose of the building has evolved, its identity remains grounded in the area’s locality and history.”
The former school building is currently being transformed with a complete refurbishment of the old building by local contractors, Whitaker and Leach. It will include a new atrium, communal space and gardens for service users and local people to enjoy.
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “It was great to see that construction has begun on the new curved entrance, marking a major milestone in the project and giving the space a clear sense of its emerging design and character.”
Chair of the Shipley Towns Fund Board, Adam Clerkin added: “This is a huge project for the towns fund and for Shipley. It is exciting to see the progress already made and we’re looking forward to seeing the new facility take shape over the coming months. The finished centre will be invaluable, delivering improved access to a wide range of mental and physical health services.”
Services will be available for the whole community and will particularly focus on supporting vulnerable people. There will be large rooms for groups and events, smaller activity rooms, consulting rooms for clinical and non-clinical interventions as well as a multi-faith and contemplation space. Office and co-working space has also been set aside for health and well-being providers and social enterprises.
The Cellar Trust will continue to deliver services from Unit 12 Park View Court, St Paul’s Road, Shipley BD18 3DZ for the duration of the building work and the new facilities are expected to open in Summer 2025.
