
Plans are afoot to transform the first-floor space above Heaton Chapel Station into a social enterprise and community hub. Flourish Together been working closely with local residents, community groups and train companies this past year. Building work starts this month with a view to opening the space by Spring 2023.
What is happening at Heaton Chapel Station?
In January 2022 Flourish Together won a bid to take on the first floor space above the station with our proposal to turn the space into a social enterprise and community hub.
Thanks to the Greater Manchester Rail Stations Alliance, £650,000 had been been secured for the renovation
Four stations across Greater Manchester – Broadbottom, Altrincham, Trafford Park and Heaton Chapel.
‘Action Stations’ was then launched with Transport for Greater Manchester, Northern Rail and Network Rail working with GMCVO, inviting community organisations, social enterprise groups and charities to tender to occupy the previously unused spaces. The project aims to breathe new life into the spaces – which were in varying levels of disrepair and disuse – with the hope that the success of this pilot project will lead to further opportunities in the future.
Flourish Together won the bid with their proposal to transform the space into a social enterprise hub offering workspace, meeting rooms, events, support and collaboration opportunities for the local community.
What has happened so far?
Flourish has been working hard behind the scenes to listen to and map the needs and ideas from local residents and groups including The Heaton Post, Friends of Heaton Chapel Station and others. We’ve also been building partnerships with community support organisations and we have secured over £25,000 in grants from CDL, The National Lottery and Postcode Neighbourhood Trust. We’ll be investing this in furniture and equipment for the space as well as offering community enterprise support and hosting local events in 2023 (you can follow us on Eventbrite to be kept informed about all Flourish events).
Flourish Together’s co-founding director Nickala Torkington is from Stockport herself and has family living locally. She is excited to be working with local changemakers, community groups and social enterprise support specialists to re-develop the space, “We have been working with the train companies, local residents and wider interested groups for the past year, to bring this idea to fruition and are thrilled to see building works starting on the project this month, with a view to it being open by Spring 2023.”
Interested in finding out more?
If you’d like to hear more about how you or your organisation could get involved with the hub, or make use of the space, email: nickala@flourishtogether.org.uk.
Or come and say hello at ChristmasFest
Or you can pop by and visit our stall at ChristmasFest on Sunday 4th December (we’ll be setting up somewhere near the station). We’d be delighted to meet you and chat about the development, space hire arrangements, upcoming events and other ways to get involved.
For more information about the Action Stations Project see GMCVO’s website.