A vital community hub in the heart of Dewsbury has been safeguarded for years to come following a programme of essential repair and refurbishment works delivered by Willmott Dixon and supply chain partners, through YOR4Good.

The Dewsbury Community Outreach building had become increasingly vulnerable to damp and water ingress due to deteriorating external brickwork and defects within the roof structure. To address the issues, supply chain partners IBN and Watershed were engaged to provide specialist scaffolding and roofing expertise, enabling safe access to the historic building for a full inspection and assessment.

Due to the property’s location within Dewsbury’s historic quarter, careful planning and coordination were required throughout the project. Scaffolding was erected to allow comprehensive surveys and safe working access before major repair works were undertaken, including roof reinstatement, targeted structural repairs and extensive repointing of the external brickwork.

The improvements to the value of £18,618, have protected the building from ongoing damp problems and future deterioration, helping to preserve its structural integrity and ensuring it remains fit for community use long into the future.

Owned and managed by Dewsbury Community Outreach, the facility plays a crucial role in supporting local people facing hardship. The charity provides a range of essential services, including food provision, washing and laundry facilities, and support with benefits and correspondence. By securing the building’s future, the project has enabled the charity to focus future funding on frontline services rather than urgent building maintenance.

Alongside the external repairs, refurbishment works were also carried out to the charity’s shower and bathroom facilities. Originally installed on a temporary basis, the facilities were seeing around five to ten uses per week. Following the closure of Dewsbury Sports Centre, demand increased significantly to more than 25 uses per week, placing greater pressure on the space and accelerating wear and tear.

To ensure the facilities remained safe, hygienic and sustainable, the existing flooring was removed and replaced with a more durable, water-resistant solution. The original flooring was lifted to allow the sub-base to fully dry, reducing the risk of mould growth and future maintenance issues before the new flooring was installed.

Works were carefully scheduled during agreed closure periods to minimise disruption to service users, with additional time allowed for the newly refurbished area to settle before reopening. Ongoing monitoring has helped ensure the upgraded facilities continue to meet demand while providing a safe and welcoming environment for users.

WDC employees carried out initial assessments, managed water damage considerations and worked closely with supply chain partners to coordinate costs, programmes and health and safety requirements. Specialist contractors subsequently completed the flooring removal and installation, while additional labour support helped prepare the area, remove existing fixtures and address previous temporary repairs to create a suitable foundation for the new flooring system.

The project has not only protected a building of local historic significance but has also strengthened the charity’s ability to continue supporting vulnerable individuals across the community. By investing in both the building fabric and essential user facilities, the scheme has helped restore pride in a valued local asset while ensuring vital services remain available for those who need them most.