Net Church opens soft play centre, The Happy Hub, in former Wilko building on Sittingbourne High Street

A soft play centre and cafe have opened in a former Wilko.

Net Church which bought the unit in Sittingbourne High Street, is looking to boost the economy and drive people back into the town with the new plans.

Senior pastor Roy Morley said: “We want to provide a safe space, and we're trying to make it as reasonable as possible.

“It's difficult to raise kids in this day and age. Money is always tight.

“Buying Wilko allowed us to do what we're already doing, but to do it better and bigger than before.”

The 56-year-old from Bredgar added: “Out of that, we can help some of the more underprivileged families.

“Down the line, we plan to work with social services and schools, doing free parties for families that are struggling.

“We are looking at holding SEN sessions and how we can help carers."

The Happy Hub opened on Monday October 20.

There is a soft play and role play area for children aged up to around eight years old, along with a games room and a cafe.

For a two-hour session, it costs £5.50 per family and can be booked online.

Ofsted-registered Little Angels Playgroup will also be moving in on the same floor.

With 10 new staff members already hired, Net Church aims to boost the local economy with the launch of these facilities.

Roy said: “Hopefully, it's going to bring people into the high street.

“We need more good businesses here, and if it's not going to be retail, it will be in the leisure or services section.”

Formerly known as the Sittingbourne Pentecostal Church, the organisation has been serving the local community for almost 100 years.

It previously ran from 95 East Street, which is around half a mile away from the new location.

After moving in 25 years ago, they managed to repair the roof and install a second floor.

However, as numbers grew, it struggled to host Sunday services and instead had to rent school halls.

It is understood that the site in East Street has been sold to another church that is part of the same organisation.

In February, plans were submitted to Swale council for the larger venue, which is next to Station Street.

The three-storey building had been empty for more than a year.

Net Church requested permission for a change of use from a commercial unit to a mixed-use premises.

Roy added: “We took on another church in Dartford about 12 years ago, and that really grew.

“It now has more than 1,200 members. In order for us not to cap that growth, we've got to create more space.

“When we saw Wilko going up for sale, we came out to look at it and thought this would be perfect. It's a great building and it would have been a shame for it to go derelict.”

At the moment, construction work is taking place on the first and second floors.

Other facilities set to be added include a creche, youth centre and six recording studios.

A church auditorium is also being built, which will seat around 800 people and used for traditional services. It will be available to be hired out to charities or companies that need conference space.

It will be the seventh church in the vicinity of the High Street and is located opposite the Sittingbourne Baptist Church.

Despite this, Roy said: “I think there are lots of churches, and just like every business, each one caters to different groups of people.

“For example, the more traditional will be for the quieter and elderly, whereas we are quite loud.

“We're modern and down to earth. We're all about reaching families and the community. That's always been our focus."

Net Church aims to open for service on Sunday, November 23.