The Peter Birtwistle Trust is a Member of The National Almshouses Association and a Registered Social Housing Provider.

The Peter Birtwistle Trust is managed by 12 Trustees. The Trust employs an; Administrator, Assistant Administrator and three Gardeners. The Peter Birtwistle Trust also has a Community Centre, which is available for hire.

HISTORY

Peter Birtwistle, who was born in Colne, emigrated to Canada in the 19^th Century. In 1918 he created a Trust leaving his fortune to the Borough of Colne. It is believed that as a result of an earlier disagreement with a local society he changed his will to leave his wealth to Colne instead of for the benefit of London, Ontario, where he lived and had his business as a jeweller.

The money was to be paid to the Colne Corporation 21 years after his death which occurred in 1927. By the time the money was paid out the amount had accumulated to almost $1,000,000 Canadian dollars.

The Peter Birtwistle Trust was established under a Charity Commission scheme dated 4^th December 1951.

The Community Centre on Keighley Road was the first acquisition.

The first 22 almshouses were built at Peter Birtwistle Close in 1957 followed by a further 18 at Birtwistle Fold in 1964. 10 more were built at Birtwistle Standroyd in 1970.

In 1993 the Trust became a Housing Association which enabled it to receive grants from the Housing Corporation. With the additional finance of a mortgage from the Marsden Building Society 10 flats and 4 bungalows were built at Birtwistle Hyde Park.

Most recently a refurbishment of the Community Centre has enabled the creation of 4 new flats on Keighley Road.

The Peter Birtwistle Trust is a Registered Charity and Housing Association based in Colne, Lancashire.The Trust provides supported accommodation for the elderly of Colne in one bedroomed bungalows and flats which are situated on six sites;

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Applicants need to be 60 years or over and have been born in Colne or have lived in Colne for 10 years or more. Application forms can be picked up from the Peter Birtwistle Trust office or downloaded from this site. 

NOTES FOR APPLICANTS. There are notes for applicants available to assist people filling in the application form, these can also be accessed from Colne Town Hall, the Peter Birtwistle Trust office or downloaded from this site.

ACCOMODATION CHOICE

Please look through the information provided in Accommodation Choice to help you decide which of the 5 sites would be preferable to you.

Community Centre

The Peter Birtwistle Community Centre14 Keighley Road, Colne, BB8 0JL

Groups

The Community Centre is used on a regular basis by; 

Available for Hire

The Ground Floor room and Small Meeting room.
The Ground Floor room is suitable for meetings, AGM’s, activity sessions etc. It can hold around 40 people either seated around square tables or in rows of chairs.

Toilets inc. disabled toilet on the ground floor.

The small meeting room is on the First Floor and holds around 10 people seated around a table. There is access to the small kitchen area on the ground floor and the toilets, also on the ground floor.
Hire Rates are typically £10 per hour.

To make a booking or for further information please contact us by; phone (01282) 864233 or email as below or fill in the contact form below.