1st July 2019
A Toxteth Community Centre has been reopened and renamed in honour of a woman who dedicated her life to supporting local people.
The Irene Milson MBE Resource Centre, was officially opened at a special event on Wednesday by Irene’s daughter Janine.
The centre, which is run by Plus Dane Housing, is located on Kelvin Grove in the Welsh Streets area, and has been renamed to commemorate local resident Irene Milson MBE, who sadly passed away earlier this year. Irene, who moved to the area with her family in 1984 had dedicated her life to making things better for her local community.
Irene’s daughter Janine, who gave a heartfelt speech just before she officially opened the centre, said: “My mum cared so much about this community, and spent a lot of time and energy fighting for the rights of the people who live here, doing whatever she could to make their lives’ better. This centre is a wonderful tribute to her legacy. She spent so much time here, talking to people, hearing their concerns and offering them whatever support she could and I really hope people within the community continue to make use of the facilities and services on offer here.”
Barbara Spicer, chief executive at Plus Dane, said: “Irene was a key member of the community, often working with and liaising with the police, local councillors, and partner agencies to improve the facilities and upkeep of the area. In 1988 she was awarded the Citizen of the Year award by Merseyside Police, she received the Liverpool Champion Award in 2006, Plus Dane’s Long Service Tenant Representative Award in 2008 and was awarded an MBE for Community Services in 2008. Irene will be sorely missed to everyone who knew and worked with her. We hope that by re-launching the resource centre in Irene’s name, it shows acknowledgement and recognition of all the hard work Irene did in the community.”
The renaming event saw members of the Welsh Streets community, and local service providers turn out to pay their respects to Irene. There was also a food market run by local charity Micah, and a chance for locals to find out about other services that will be running at the centre.
Sian Martin-Baez, strategic partnerships manager at Plus Dane, said: “Plus Dane and Novus Solutions have worked together to refurbish the centre, including a new kitchen, décor and furniture. We’re encouraging the local community to take advantage of the services that will be on offer at the centre, which will include a community food market, wellbeing activities and employment and money advice.”
Plus Dane is currently 15 months into a three-year regeneration of Toxteth’s Welsh Streets, a project which will not only focus on the rebuilding of over 100 homes, but also the rejuvenation of the community and infrastructure.
In partnership with Liverpool City Council and Homes England, Plus Dane is rebuilding a total of 99 affordable homes in Liverpool’s Welsh Streets.
127 properties are being extensively remodelled as part of the £17.4m programme to create modern, contemporary homes in the Toxteth neighbourhood.
