Modern Facilities

Nobody could have foretold what would happen to any of the institutes. The colliery companies had expected the men to take advantage of the facilities, but in time it proved far more valuable to everyone in the village.

The whole of the Forest Town community used the institute (or the “welfare” to their advantage, for various reasons and events and it proved a popular asset right up until it was demolished in the early 1960s.

The club was replaced and rebuilt in 1970 with the building that is still used today – Forest Town Welfare – or as it is being renamed Forest Town Academy (2006).

Forest Town Academy (welfare) has continued to grow, expand and associate itself as one of the greatest assets the community has. We work hard to maintain the standards set by the past, and only hope we can build on them. Our facilities are being refurbished and expanded to ensure we are able to offer more to a wider community.

Officially, as an institute, Forest Town Welfare has been providing a centre of facilities for customers in the area for nearly 100 years. With plans for the future set that can only mean the club getting bigger and better we hope it will continue to serve everyone for many years to come.