A NEW community centre hopes out to reach out to local people with offers of support, services, and social help.

The Bridge, in Princes Road, Buckhurst Hill, opened its doors to the public with a day offering free entertainment and refreshments, and crowds of people turned out to celebrate their new centre.

Part of Bridge Church, the building has just received a £100,000 refurbishment with help from an Essex County Council grant, and will now serve as a base for training and education as well as a facility for young people.

Bridge development director Chris Kapnisis said: “We run another centre in Woodford and really saw the benefit of voluntary groups involved in the community, and we wanted to do something that benefits the local community in Buckhurst Hill.

“We have got a lot of ideas around social work- creating small business start-up models with a social objective, creating services to provide skills and training. We really believe in this and want to be here long term so people can see what we’re doing.”

The centre was opened by former chairmen of Buckhurst Hill Parish Council Peter and Eleanor Spencer.

Mr Spencer said: “In 2008 at the Green Festival we were delighted to meet Michael Harden who had plans to bring a Bridge project to Princes Road.

“After a lot of hard work on his part and others we find ourselves with this splendid new venue where people of all ages can meet. We hope many groups will hire these facilities.”

Among other groups, the new centre will serve as a base for members of Buckhurst Hill Youth Forum, a voluntary group of local young people who helped redecorate the new building.