Whitefield welcomes Bury's first Live Well Centre as hundreds attend community celebration

Around 200 residents, community organisations and partners came together on Sunday (16 August) to celebrate the official opening of the Whitefield Live Well Centre, the first dedicated Live Well Centre in Bury and the first of a number of Live Well centres and community spaces planned to be rolled out across all parts of the borough by 2030.

The event marked a major milestone for Bury's Live Well programme, with Whitefield leading the way as the first neighbourhood to open a dedicated centre bringing together community activity, advice, support and services under one roof.

The centre forms part of a wider ambition to create a network of accessible Live Well spaces across Bury, helping residents access support, opportunities and connections closer to home.

The centre was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by the Mayor of Bury, Councillor Mohammed Tahir Rafiq and joined by Helen Tomlinson, Chief Officer at Bury VCFA; Lynne Ridsdale, Bury Council Chief Executive and Place-based Lead; Will Blandamer, Bury Council Executive Director of Health and Adult Care and Deputy Place Based Lead; and Councillor Tamoor Tariq, Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Health and Public Service Reform.

Visitors enjoyed a packed programme of free family activities throughout the day, including face painting, balloon modelling, virtual reality experiences, wildlife activities with Lancashire Wildlife Trust, free bike repairs, the Museum of Curiosity and much more. The event also provided an opportunity for residents to meet local organisations, learn about support available in their area and explore the new facilities.

The celebration also marked the opening of Our Place, a new community café based within the centre and managed by Persona Care & Support. The café welcomed visitors throughout the day and will now be open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 2.30pm, offering healthy, affordable meals and hot drinks in a welcoming environment.

The launch represents the beginning of a new chapter for Whitefield, with the centre now set to become home to a growing range of services and activities delivered by local voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations. The offer will continue to evolve in response to local needs, creating opportunities for people to connect, build skills and improve their wellbeing.

Everyone is welcome at the Whitefield Live Well Centre on Albert Road. Come along to meet the team, discover what's on offer and explore the centre's fantastic new facilities.

Helen Tomlinson, Chief Officer at Bury VCFA, said:

"The opening of the Whitefield Live Well Centre is an incredible achievement and the culmination of many months of hard work from partners across the public, voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors. Together, we have created a fantastic asset for the Whitefield community that reflects what can be achieved when organisations work collaboratively around the needs and strengths of local people.

"It was wonderful to see so many residents, local groups and partners come together to celebrate the opening. This centre is much more than a building. It is a welcoming space where people can access support, build connections, develop new skills and become more involved in their community.

"Whitefield is the first neighbourhood in Bury to benefit from a dedicated Live Well Centre, but it is only the beginning. The learning and partnerships developed here will help shape future Live Well centres and spaces across the borough, ensuring more residents can access the support and opportunities they need to live well and thrive."

Councillor Tamoor Tariq, Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Health and Public Service Reform at Bury Council, said:

"The turnout for the opening event demonstrated the enthusiasm and support for this new approach to neighbourhood-based support. The Whitefield Live Well Centre represents an important step towards our ambition to create stronger, healthier and more connected communities across Bury.

"By bringing support, advice and community activity together in a local and accessible setting, we can help more people get the right support at the right time. Whitefield is leading the way, and we look forward to seeing the positive difference the centre will make for residents.

"The Whitefield centre is the first milestone in our ambition to roll out Live Well centres and community spaces across all parts of the borough by 2030.”

Live Well forms part of Greater Manchester's ambition to provide great everyday support in every neighbourhood. The approach brings public services, community organisations and residents together, focusing on prevention, early support and reducing inequalities.

As the first Live Well Centre in Bury, the Whitefield site will help inform the development of further Live Well centres and neighbourhood spaces across the borough. Together, these will create a growing network of community-based support, helping residents access advice, activities and opportunities in the places where they live.

To find out more about Live Well in Bury, visit:

Find out more about Live Well in Greater Manchester, visit: