A state-of-the art sports centre facility at Forest Hill School was opened on 18 November.
Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, and Jim Dowd, MP for Lewisham West, were joined by headteacher Peter Walsh and other dignitaries for the grand opening.
The Forest Hill Community Sports Centre will be used by the school and opened to the public in the evenings and weekends.
During the opening members of the public were invited try free taster sessions of the sports and activities on offer at the centre including Kung Fu, netball and yoga.
Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, said: 'This sports hall shows Lewisham Council continues to provide top quality sports facilities for the borough.
'Allowing schools and the community to share a centre like this means everyone benefits and I’m delighted this part of the borough has a site like this it can be proud of.
'The next few years will see the borough’s leisure services going from strength to strength with Downham Health and Learning centre opening next year and improved pool provision at Wavelengths, Forest Hill and a new pool at Sundermead following that.'
The Big Lottery Fund gave £2.45m for the new centre which offers:
- a four badminton court sports hall
- two activity halls
- a 22-station air-conditioned fitness suite
- two 5-a-side football pitches.
Peter Walsh, Forest Hill School’s headteacher, said 'Having such a top class sports facility at our school is extremely exciting and will bring huge benefits to our pupils.
'But being able to share such an excellent sports centre with the community during evenings and weekends when we’re not using it is great news. It makes a lot of sense and helps us build even stronger links to the local community.'
The Forest Hill centre also offers activities from trampolining to table tennis and many classes including aerobics, kung fu, badminton and yoga.
Jim Dowd MP also added 'Whatever your age there is something for everyone at this new sports centre, I hope all residents and pupils take advantage of the wide range of activities that will be available'.
It will be home to the Lewisham Borough Basketball Club coached by current England International, Steve Bucknall as well as the Millwall Lioness and many other clubs.
During week days the Forest Hill Community Sports Centre will be used by Forest hill school, but is open to the community between 6pm and 10pm, and 9am to 4.30pm on Saturdays. The centre is also available to hire contact Carol Lynch, the newly appointed Centre Manager, for more information.
For more information about the Forest Hill Community Sports Centre call 020 8613 0913.