Heaton Chapel station in Greater Manchester is providing a newly-refurbished space to a social enterprise offering a programme of activities and events, including a pop-up spa.

Train operator Northern has restored an unused area on the first floor of the main station entrance building, and it is now the new home of Flourish Together CIC (Community Interest Company).

Flourish Together CIC describes itself as a social enterprise consultancy supporting people with great ideas to set up or scale up their own social ventures, creating the change they see needed in their communities.

It will provide a programme of activities and events, including a monthly pop-up spa offering beauty, wellbeing and holistic therapies at affordable prices.

This initiative is part of a scheme called Action Stations, set up by The Station Alliance, which includes representation from Northern, Network Rail, Transport for Greater Manchester, government-owned property and regeneration firm London and Continental Railway and Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation.

Under the same project, two more Greater Manchester stations will see similar community hubs open this year.

At Altrincham, an old storeroom, and the current customer information point on platform 4 will be transformed into ‘The Hub’, consisting of two large rooms for community use. A brand-new waiting room will also be added to the same building. Northern staff will continue to provide assistance and information to customers on platform 4.

At Trafford Park station, space has been found to create a room for use by local health practitioners.

Chris Jackson, regional director at Northern, said: “At Northern, we want our stations to be more than just places to travel to and from, we want to put our customers at the heart of everything we do.

“This scheme is the perfect example of this, and we’re excited to welcome Flourish Together into its new home.”

Nickala Torkington, founder and director of Flourish Together, said: “We’re thrilled to be able to bring our knowledge, skills and networks to the area and regenerate this fabulous character building and offer much needed, affordable working spaces and a new small venue for community groups and events.”

Michael Keating, station development Manager at Transport for Greater Manchester said:  “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Flourish , The Hub and also The Well Being Rooms to our GM Stations.

“Transport for Greater Manchester is proud of the work that the Stations Alliance has achieved by ensuring that disused buildings at our rail stations can now be utilised to offer services for the local communities that they serve.”

Alex Bowker, senior development manager at LCR, said: “Our work with Action Stations means we’re always thinking about how to bring the most value to the communities we operate in. We’re confident that the newly developed space in Heaton Chapel will see social enterprises in the area flourish and find a home for future-proofing their ideas.”