Avrupa Times/London-Community House on Fore Street has reopened after a £2.4 million refurbishment. The work was carried out as part of the Council’s wider Shaping Edmonton programme, which aims to improve Edmonton for residents and local businesses.Community groups and local leaders came together on 18 February to celebrate the reopening. The event marked an important step in improving services and public spaces in the heart of Edmonton.The project was funded by the government’s Levelling Up Fund, along with support from the Disabled Facilities Grant, the Department of Health and contributions from Enfield Council.The refurbished building now brings three main services together under one roof: the Resource Centre, Community Link Enfield and Community Link Edmonton. The new Snack and Chat community café, based inside the Resource Centre, has also opened its doors.
Community House has been redesigned to be modern, fully accessible and welcoming. The aim is to improve people’s health and wellbeing, reduce loneliness and provide early help so residents can get support before problems become more serious.
The Resource Centre supports around 400 registered residents. It offers activities such as art, crafts, IT, photography, gardening, music and wellbeing sessions. Community Link services provide personalised support to help adults build confidence, learn new skills and live more independently.
Service users helped design the look and feel of the building. They worked with local architects, an artist and a sign maker to choose colours and shape the style of the space. They also named the new café, Snack and Chat. At the reopening event, guests heard from the artist who worked with residents to create murals inside the building that reflect its history.
Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, Cllr Alev Cazimoglu, said: “The reopening of Community House represents an important step in our Shaping Edmonton Programme. This investment strengthens the support we provide to residents while creating a welcoming, inclusive space in the heart of the community. By bringing services together under one roof, we are improving access, supporting independence and helping to prevent the need for more intensive services later on.”
Cabinet Member for Environment & Placemaking, Cllr Sabri Ozaydin, added: “Shaping Edmonton is about more than regeneration – it is about creating places that work for local people. Revitalising Community House improves accessibility, supports community wellbeing and contributes to the wider renewal of Fore Street as part of our Shaping Edmonton vision. This investment helps build a more vibrant, inclusive and sustainable town centre for Upper Edmonton.”
Improving access and equality has been central to the refurbishment, with better access throughout the building. The new community café is expected to attract more visitors and support ongoing improvements across Edmonton as part of the wider Shaping Edmonton programme.
