Fears for the future of a popular event for young people in Wokingham appear to have been resolved.
Last week, participants at the Friday Night Project at St Crispin’s Leisure Centre on London Road were given a leaflet by organisers The Ark, saying that sessions would end in March.
This prompted concerned parents and carers to reach out to Wokingham Today to seek clarification.
Friday Night Project is a weekly social event and disco for people with learning disabilities and/or autism. It has been taking place at the Wokingham centre for more than 10 years.
After receiving the “bombshell” news, one parent told Wokingham Today: “At the moment, we don’t even know whether The Ark will be permitted to continue providing this social opportunity outside of school term times.
“If this was to happen, it would create social isolation for a number of disabled users as during school holidays, there are no other social weekly opportunities like this one.
“This crucial lifeline needs to operate all year round. This is a mental well-being matter for young people with disabilities.”
Another parent explained how Friday Night Project was the highlight of the week for her daughter, who would be lost if it was forced to end.
Last week’s leaflet, a copy of which has been seen by Wokingham Today, said: “We have been told that St Crispin’s Leisure Centre … will close at the end of March.
“This news might make you feel sad or anxious but … we are looking for new venues to hold the Friday Night Project.”
In November 2023, we reported how Angela McCrombie, CEO of The Ark Trust, had written to Wokingham Borough Council to express her concerns over a lack of communication, and to seek assurances regarding the future of the Friday Night Project, which regularly attracts more than 100 young people and their carers.
In December, Wokingham Borough Council granted a 125-year lease for the leisure centre to The Circle Trust, a charitable organisation that operates the neighbouring school, to provide 55 extra places per year over the next six years.
This was to address a predicted shortfall of school places.
Councillors noted at the time how a legal agreement would ensure space would be allocated for existing and future community uses of the centre outside of school hours.
When approached earlier this week, Ginny Rhodes, CEO of The Circle Trust confirmed: “We are wholly committed, to continuing events such as The Friday Night Project Disco run by The Ark at St Crispin’s Sport Centre.
“As an educational charity, we are wholly committed to supporting local events such as these.”
In a statement to Wokingham Today on Thursday, The Ark Trust confirmed: “The school has made initial contact, and hopefully this will be positive.”
Wokingham Today understands that Places Leisure, the current operators of the leisure centre, could be ending its contract at the end of March, hence the confusion regarding operations after this date which will continue under The Circle Trust.
