Closure of Historic Birmingham Community Centre Highlights Deterioration
Huge gallery shows sorry state of Birmingham building gifted by Cadbury ahead of its closure
Birmingham Live
Image: Birmingham Live
The Friends Institute, a historic community centre in Sparkhill, Birmingham, is set to close on April 2, 2023, due to its deteriorating condition. Originally gifted by Richard Cadbury, the building has served the community for decades but now shows significant signs of decay.
- 01The Friends Institute in Sparkhill, Birmingham, is closing on April 2, 2023.
- 02The building was gifted by Richard Cadbury for community use and has been a local hub since the 1980s.
- 03Photographs reveal significant deterioration, including flaking paint and unsafe conditions.
- 04The centre has hosted various community groups and a charity shop that supported local initiatives.
- 05Birmingham City Council has been contacted for details regarding the closure and future plans.
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The Friends Institute, located on Moseley Road in Sparkhill, Birmingham, is set to close its doors on April 2, 2023, marking the end of an era for a building that has served the community since it was gifted by Richard Cadbury in the 1980s. This former Quaker meeting house has become a vital recreational space for local groups, but recent photographs reveal its alarming state of disrepair, with flaking paint, fallen plaster, and unsafe areas. The centre has been home to various community initiatives, including a charity shop that helped fund activities. BirminghamLive has reached out to Birmingham City Council for more information regarding the reasons for the closure and any future plans for the site.
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The closure of the Friends Institute will affect local community groups that have relied on the space for activities and support.
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