The Acklam Green Centre has a packed calendar of activities that take place each week, ranging from Slimming World groups to meditation and mindfulness sessions and performing arts classes. We’ve produced a handy new timetables so that members of the public can find out what’s happening here in their local community with ease.

If you’re looking for a base to run your activity; whether it’s a fitness class, art class or something completely different, we still have plenty of slots available throughout the week and our versatile space means we’re confident we can meet your needs. To enquire, get in touch via 01642 811137.

The Acklam Green Centre has welcomed two new members of staff to its in-house catering team.

Melanie Owen has joined the Middlesbrough based business and community centre as full-time café/ catering supervisor bringing over 25 years’ experience in the catering industry to the role.

Melanie, who lives in Middlesbrough close to Acklam Green Centre, has spent most of her career in a school environment, most recently at Macmillan Academy. She is now responsible for running a busy kitchen and coordinating the catering service for clients of up to 150 people using the centre for business meetings, conferences and events, as well as running Café Connect, which is open to the public as well as staff and tenants based in the centre.

She said: “I’m really looking forward to the new challenge of the supervisor role at Acklam Green Centre having spent many years working in school kitchens. The centre has an excellent catering offer and I intend to maintain our strong reputation with centre clients and members of the public alike.”

Megan Coakley has also joined the team as café/ catering assistant to support with an increased demand for café and catering services on weekends. Megan will undertake the role on a part-time basis while studying for her A-levels at Macmillan Academy.

The appointments coincide with an enhanced catering offer from Café Connect which has extended its catering menus in recent menus and has reinforced its commitment to the promotion of healthy eating, resulting in the business being awarded Middlesbrough Council’s Food4Health Gold Award.

Donna Smith, facilities manager at Acklam Green Centre, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Melanie and Megan to the Acklam Green Centre team as we continue to improve and expand our catering offer. Melanie brings a wealth of experience in the catering industry and Megan is already showing a lot of enthusiasm for the new role, so they’re both welcome additions to the team.”

For further information about Café Connect and the Acklam Green Centre contact tel: 01642 811 121 or email: info@acklam-green-centre.com

The Acklam Green Centre has received an award for its contribution to the health and wellbeing of local people.

Café Connect, located in the atrium of the Middlesbrough based business and community centre, has been awarded Middlesbrough Borough Council’s Food4Health Gold Award which recognises and rewards food businesses that offer healthy food options and promote healthy eating.

The awards consider the types of foods and ingredients used by restaurants, cafes and other venues where food is consumed, such as school and college canteens, across the Borough.  Food4Health also takes into account how food is prepared and cooked, and how the business goes about promoting their offer.

Café Connect provides catering menus for clients using Acklam Green Centre’s meeting and events facilities and it also provides an eat-in and take-away service for the centre’s tenants and members of the public.  Over the past few months it has reinforced its commitment to healthy eating by switching to low salt, cutting out dressings, using low fat products such as mayonnaise and margarine instead of butter, offering small portions and using spray oils and low fat milk.   The changes follow the introduction of revamped menus in January and a three month period where customer feedback was encouraged, which also influenced the changes.

At the end of 2016 both the Acklam Green Centre and its sister venue the Resource Centre, which also benefits from Café Connect’s catering offer, became ‘breastfeeding welcome’ venues which also helped contribute to the award.

Donna Smith, facilities manager at Acklam Green Centre, said: “We already had good menu offerings for both the café and in-house catering but in line with the award guidelines and in response to customer feedback we have now added some healthier options to give people a choice.

“We’re delighted to have achieved Food4Health Gold which recognises our continued commitment to the promotion of healthy eating and will continue to work towards the principles and respond to customer feedback.”

Laura Kemp, Public Health Officer at Middlesbrough Council, who oversees the Food4Health programme, said: “The Gold Award recognises the commitment made by food outlets to ensure the food available is nutritionally balanced, allowing customers to make fully informed food choices.

“Acklam Green Centre is one of many businesses across Middlesbrough that have embraced the Food4Health scheme and I’ve been impressed with their commitment to the promotion of healthy eating.”

Food4Health comprises three awards: Bronze, Silver and Gold.  Each award considers the types of foods and ingredients used, how food is prepared and cooked, and how the business promotes healthy eating. Awards are free and businesses working towards achieving an award receive advice and support on nutrition and healthy catering practices.

For further information about Café Connect and the Acklam Green Centre contact tel: 01642 811 121 or email: info@acklam-green-centre.com