Jack Cornwell Centre
Jack Cornwell Community Centre Reopens Following Refurbishment
The refurbished Jack Cornwell Community Centre officially reopened to the public on Saturday 3 August 2024, marking an important milestone for the local community.
Local residents came together to celebrate the reopening with an official opening ceremony, followed by a fun‑filled afternoon of free community activities. These included face‑painting, cake decorating and giant chess, alongside Bollywood and Afro Beats dance sessions and Zumba, reflecting the centre’s diverse and vibrant community.
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE said:
“It’s been brilliant seeing the local community enjoy their new‑look community venue. With a well‑designed and vibrant main hall, upgraded meeting rooms, brand new kitchen facilities and improvements to the outdoor spaces, it will be a well‑used community space for local residents for many years to come.”
What the refurbishment has delivered
The refurbishment of Jack Cornwell Community Centre has focused on making the building more welcoming, flexible and fit for long‑term community use.
Improvements include:
- Enhanced air flow and ventilation to the main hall
- A bespoke storage unit within the main hall to improve storage and house chairs and tables
- Improved lighting across the centre, including the main hall, café, entrance lobby and corridors
- New power and lighting to the rear garden, enabling the space to be used for evening outdoor events
- A revamped café and kitchen, including new openings onto the rear garden and a new kitchen unit
- A refreshed garden space with new decking and planters, better connecting indoor and outdoor areas
- Upgraded rentable spaces through redecoration and new openings to bring in more natural light
- New signage above the main entrance
- Improvements to the front of the building, including new planters and the removal of fencing to create a more inviting arrival
Project background
Situated at the heart of Little Ilford near Warrior Square, the Jack Cornwell Community Centre plays a vital role locally, hosting a wide range of activities including dance classes, parent and baby groups, NHS health and wellbeing services, self‑defence classes, prayer sessions and supplementary education.
Newham Council appointed Public Works Ltd as the multidisciplinary design team to deliver the refurbishment. The project was shaped through co‑design workshops and community engagement, ensuring local priorities directly informed the final design. In addition to the internal works, the project also considered how outdoor spaces could better support community use, with local gardeners involved in shaping the garden improvements.
Timeline
- 2023 – Community engagement, co‑design and planning
- 2024 – Refurbishment works completed and centre reopened to the public
The reopening marks the completion of this investment and the start of the next chapter for Jack Cornwell Community Centre as a welcoming, inclusive and well‑used community space for Little Ilford.
