Our Vision.
Bentham Community Centre was once the hub of activities for children and young people, families, elderly and vulnerable people and everyone in between. From low cost birthday parties and coffee mornings to play groups, after school clubs and families@4 over the last 30 years. Most recently the centre has been used for the Pop Up Pantry and Thank God its Friday, who both provided much needed food parcels and free hot meals with puddings and craft kits for local families and people who were in need of support. The centre was also the long lasting home of Bentham Youth Club.
Unfortunately the owners of the centre could not keep up with the repairs and due to this there has been numerous problems in the past, including leaking roof through two floors, damp in most areas and the windows need replacing. This made the building very unsafe for our community to use. This has meant that lots of local organisations have had to find other homes some still haven't been able to restart seven months on. Now the building is up for sale and we would like to raise funds to buy it. If we achieve our aim we will be able to move forward with relevant planning, fundraising and repairing in the hope that the once thriving centre will be back in the hand of the community.
Our Team.
Our steering commitee has been made up of interested local volunteers who feel that the community centre should be once again thriving for the future of Bentham for more memories to be made.
David - has been the Trustee Treasurer for Bentham Age Concern which he ran at a small profit. He also won a conservation award for a chapel conversion.
Lynne - has been involved in business management and has an artistic streak.
Katie - has been hugely involved in the centre's activities such as TGIFridays, she also voluntarily runs the Youth Club.
If we are successful in our bid then we would like more people to have their say in how the Community Centre will run. Being on the Main St it is in a great position and this Grade 1 listed building with its community activities will be the pride of Bentham.