Below are a few of the key milestones and achievements in the history of the Waddington Street Centre...
November 1981 - Centre established by volunteers in the hall of the United Reformed Church, Waddington Street, Durham, open one then two days per week.
1988 - 3 Waddington Street purchased and renovated with the assistance of the Health Authority.
21st December 1988 - Waddington Street Centre incorporated as a Limited Company.
6th May 1989 - 3 Waddington Street officially opened by Dr. Eric Sutherland as a four-day/five evening session drop - in resource with office accommodation.
16th May 1989 - Waddington Street Centre Limited granted charitable status by the Charity Commission.
April 1990 - First housing tenancy agreement with St Margaret’s Parochial Church Council for School House.
April 1992 - First housing licence agreement with House of God at Greatham for East Atherton Street.
February 1994 - 2 Waddington Street purchased and to be connected to No. 3 to offer multi-purpose facilities.
November 1994 - Official visit by John Bowis MP Parliamentary Under Secretary Department of Health.
26th April 1995 - 2 Waddington Street officially opened by Councillor David Bell, Mayor of Durham.
March 1997 - Bid to National Lotteries Charities Board (Big Lottery) for funding of major building development of 2-3 Waddington Street.
September 1997 - Notified of successful bid to National Lotteries Board and award of £417,090 to refurbish and equip 2-3 Waddington Street, employ a Development Worker for three years and staff training budget.
October 1998 - Re-developed Centre premises re-opened for service users.
September 1999 - Informal more substantive partnership created with New College Durham with more courses offered.
December 1999 - Centre awarded Architectural Commendation of the Year by the City of Durham Trust.
15th February 2002 - Visit by Alan Milburn MP – Secretary of State for Health.
April 2002 - Formal Partnership Agreement signed with New College Durham.
November 2006 - 25th Anniversary celebrations held in the Centre.
September 2008 - Centre opens to the public as part of National Heritage Open Day scheme for the first time.
September 2008 - Centre’s website at www.waddingtoncentre.co.uk launched.
April 2010 - New to Centre post of ‘Health Trainer’ established through funding from Co Durham Primary Care Trust to improve the physical health of people using the Centre through a variety of interventions including physical activity.
May 2011 - WSC one of three organisations shortlisted for the North East Voluntary and Community Sector Awards 2011 as ‘Outstanding Organisation’.
November 2011 - 16 solar photovoltaic panels installed on the roof of the Centre.
20th August 2012 - Visit to the Centre by Martin Barkley, Chief Executive of the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust to discuss the potential of a local Recovery College.
October 2012 - Men’s Sheds or CREE project established at Waddington Street Centre.
May 2013 - Waddington Street Centre starts to provides a service to patients being discharged from Lanchester Road Hospital through their housing remit with Durham County Council.
3rd May 2013 - Visit to the Centre by Jon Rouse, Director General for Social care, Local Government and Care Partnerships and Nick Whitton, Durham County Council Head of Commissioning.
July 2013 - Waddington Street Centre recognised by the Living Wage Foundation as a living wage employer.
6th December 2013 - Guest Speaker at the Centre’s Annual General meeting Kevan Jones, Member of Parliament for North Durham.
7th March 2014 - Visit to the Centre by Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive of Public Health England and Anna Lynch Durham County Director of Public Health.
22nd May 2015 - Visit by the Bishop of Durham the Right Revd Paul Butler to the Centre as part of his Durham Deanery Bishop’s Prayer Walk.
26th May 2016 - Waddy men’s CREE group involved in the development of a dance performance ‘Macho’ based around men’s mental health which had its premier at Dance City, Newcastle.
June 2016 - A Tuesday evening young adult support cafe and open art studio established at Waddington Street Centre in partnership with Investing in Children.
For a more comprehensive history of the Waddington Street Centre, please click here.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Centre Manager Ali Lee
