Mosque helps fund new URC community centre

A mosque has given £52,000 to help transform a neglected United Reformed Church building into a thriving community centre.

The Levenshulme Inspire centre in Manchester will feature a community café, meetings rooms, a media enterprise centre, social housing apartments and worship space for the congregation, according to Ekklesia.

Leader of the URC congregation, the Rev Ed Cox, said the centre would serve some of the most disadvantaged people in the community.

The money is being donated to the project by the Woodfield Avenue Bohra community after international Bohra leader, Mohammed Burhanuddin, paid a recent visit to the church.

Rev Cox said the mosque’s donation symbolised the strength of inter-faith relationships in the community.

He said: “The relationship between the church and the mosque began with plans to develop a joint youth club which, we hope, will now come to fruition when the centre opens later this year.”

Kate Chappell, director of the centre, said the centre would celebrate the diversity of the area and bring people together.

“It’s wonderful to see the community pulling together to make Levenshulme a better place for us all. The level of support has by far exceeded our expectations,” she said.

“We look forward to working further with all members of the community in shaping the activities of our vibrant community hub.”

Additional financial support has been given by Manchester City Council and The Big Lottery Fund.