The Centre Spot opens as Oswestry's new youth and wellbeing hub

Oswestry's young people have a new place to call their own. The Centre Spot, the town's youth and wellbeing hub on Oak Street, celebrated its official opening on 5 June with councils, funders, local businesses and players from The New Saints FC first team.

The building is now managed by The New Saints FC Foundation, the charity linked to the football club, following an asset transfer from Oswestry Town Council. It was built by Shropshire Council in 2012 on the site of the former Centre North West youth building, and the town council took it on in August 2024. The Foundation signed the lease in December 2025 and renamed it The Centre Spot.

Guests at the opening included Katy Tanner, the High Sheriff of Shropshire, and Oswestry Mayor Jonathan Upton, along with representatives from Oswestry Town Council, Shropshire Council and the sports partnership Energize. Supporters included the Wynn Foundation, the Cambrian Rotary Club and the Shropshire Community Foundation, through the Millichope Foundation Village Hall and Community Spaces Fund.

The hub is already busy. It is home to youth clubs, drop-in sessions, play therapy and sports activities. Resident organisations include the OsNosh community food programme, St John Ambulance, Obertelli Play Therapy and Soundlives, which uses the centre's built-in music and recording studio.

There is a sports hall, an art and craft room for workshops, meeting and office space, a cafe foyer and an outdoor multi-use games area, and rooms are available to hire. Regular activities have included a Wednesday evening youth club with Shropshire Youth Association, a Tuesday youth cafe, Footie Families sessions for children aged two to four and All In activities for young people with special educational needs.

"Football is about so much more than the game, it's about the community that grows around a place," said Ian Williams, chief operating officer at TNS FC.

Gill Jones, head of The New Saints FC Foundation, said taking on the building would help to safeguard its future for Oswestry and particularly its young people. The Foundation plans to expand its physical and mental health programmes across north-west Shropshire.

To find out about activities or room hire at The Centre Spot, Oak Street, Oswestry, contact The New Saints FC Foundation.