Originally there was a centre established in 1981 in the Science Rooms at the former Double View School, which had been converted into the High View Community Centre.
Because of its success over a ten year period, when the County Council closed he High View Centre, we were accommodated in a new building, built by the Forest of Dean and Gloucester County Council with the aid of a Sports Council grant, at the Heywood Community site in Cinderford. The move was completed in September of 1991.
The present Centre was built in 1991 by the Forest of Dean and Gloucester County Council with the aid of a Sports Council grant. The building was erected specifically for the Forest Fitness Centre as part of a complex package involving the disposal of County Council buildings on another site in Cinderford in order to enhance the joint use of the Sports Centre on the Heywood Community School site. (The Centre was located in one of the County Council buildings which were disposed of and was guaranteed a home as part of the project).
In 1996 work started on a community funded project to build an extension to house Special Needs equipment and Caradio vascular machines. The Centre's Trust Fund paid for the materials and the building works was carried out by volunteers. This Community Room was opened by Sir John Harvey-Jones in May, 1997 and was equipped with machines paid for by a Lottery Grant and Donations from Centre Members. The extension also houses special equipment for fitness training and rehabilitation work for disabled and elderly Trainees.
The Centre has been outstandingly successful and attendances are at such a high level that it is difficult to cope with demand for most sessions (especially the Special Needs ones). Hence we need to build a new, bigger centre to meet the needs of the local community.