Victoria House, home to Oldham Boxing and Personal Development Centre is among eight community projects across England and Northern Ireland set to be rescued by more than £2.2 million of government levelling up funding.
Oldham Boxing and Personal Development Centre provides support for vulnerable young people and offers fitness and wellbeing classes to help families bond. Without investment, the centre would be forced to moved, leaving the community is has served behind.
Victoria House was built in 1874 and operated as a billiard hall at the turn of the 20th century. More than £500,000 from the Community Ownership Fund will allow the club to carry out essential repair works, keeping the historic building open to the whole community.
This is all part of the government’s drive to level up local communities across the country, create more jobs for local people, boost local businesses and build up local economies as a result.
Minister for Levelling Up, the Union and Constitution, Neil O’Brien MP said:
“Giving communities more power to make positive changes in the places they live is a key part of what levelling up is all about.
“Through this Fund we are making sure that important projects like the Oldham Boxing Centre can continue to thrive and proudly serve the local community.”
The fund is already helping communities across the country seize ownership of prized local assets that are at risk, including the UK’s most remote pub in Scotland and Gigg Lane, home of Bury FC.
