A community centre in the heart of Stockton will reopen its doors to the public after undergoing a major refurbishment.
The Parkfield Community Centre was taken over by Bizi Studios in October 2024 with support from Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, and a refresh of the facility has transformed it into a vibrant creative hub, which aims to be a cornerstone of the local community for years to come.
The refurbishment of the building has involved a renovation of the kitchen as well as the installation of new flooring throughout the building. A £9,272 donation from Esh, secured as part of its social value commitments on housing projects being delivered for Thirteen Group, funded a new range cooker, fridge freezer, cabinets, and fittings, as well as flooring for the kitchen, corridor, toilets, and main hall.
Aley Wright, Social Value Coordinator at Esh Construction said: “At Esh, we believe construction should leave a lasting legacy beyond bricks and mortar. Supporting the refurbishment of Parkfield Community Centre reflects our commitment to creating thriving communities through meaningful investment.
“It’s apparent that the people running the centre on a daily basis, have a strong passion to return it to a bright space while giving local creatives the chance to explore new skills and be inspired by others living and working in their community.
“By working closely with local partners, our funding has contributed to helping restore a space that brings people together, celebrates creativity, and fosters inclusion – values that sit at the heart of our Constructing Local strategy.”
The centre now boasts a fully equipped kitchen, a hall, meeting and office space, a small patio, and a garden area. It is home to a wide variety of activities, including creative youth clubs, sewing classes, cooking courses, and storytelling sessions, offering affordable facilities for people of all ages and backgrounds to meet, learn, and celebrate culture.
Jane Bizimana, who runs Bizi Studios and helps manage the centre, shared her excitement at reopening the venue to the public. She said: “It has been a while since the building had new life, but we are keen to provide a place for the whole community to use — a vibrant, shared space for everyone.
“There are people from a variety of cultures who use the centre, and we’ve been working to enhance what it is and how it’s used. It’s a safe space for everyone to learn more about other cultures, right here in Stockton.”
Thanks to a collaborative effort between Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Bizi Studios, Thirteen Group, and Esh, it’s now ready to welcome residents back.
Angela Corner, Thirteen’s head of regeneration and communities, added: “We’re always looking to connect our contractors with opportunities to do great things in our communities, so we were delighted to secure this donation from Esh Construction towards the refurbishment of Parkfield Community Centre.
“In this case it’s refurbishing a community building but contractors are doing all sorts – taking on local apprentices, funding community activity sessions, providing school play equipment, volunteering in community gardens and sending staff to a local school to help pupils with their reading. It’s so great to see.”
The official reopening celebration will take place on Thursday, 11th September from 3:30pm to 6:30pm, and members of the public are warmly invited to attend.
At Esh, we believe construction should leave a lasting legacy beyond bricks and mortar. Supporting the refurbishment of Parkfield Community Centre reflects our commitment to creating thriving communities through meaningful investment.
By working closely with local partners, our funding has contributed to helping restore a space that brings people together, celebrates creativity, and fosters inclusion – values that sit at the heart of our Constructing Local strategy.”
