A sports center in North Devon seeks funds for a community café, bar, and hall to boost local engagement.
The Atlantic Racquet Centre (ARC) is in Bideford. They want to create a community hub because local groups said this hub is needed. Over 6,000 people support this project, and 95% want this type of community space.
The project is now ready to start, but ARC needs £300,000 to finish the work. ARC is a charity that has already raised over £3.7 million, a feat that took 20 years of effort.
The center welcomes over 5,000 visitors weekly. They offer great services for everyone local and they promote family fun for all kinds of people. Activities improve health and wellbeing.
In 2024, ARC gave free tennis to 2,000+ kids. They held a Free Family Open Day for locals and 1,750 kids enjoyed holiday camps. They offer activities for the wider community.
Each week, 50+ adults with disabilities attend, while over 300 children get coaching. The new café will provide a social space and they will serve food and drinks and offer job skills training.
The hall will host fitness classes and workshops, and public meetings can happen there too. It will also host dance and martial arts, and weddings and parties can use it too.