GREEN STREET GREEN ASSOCIATION - Save the Greenwood Centre

£250,000+ URGENTLY NEEDED - PLEASE SUPPORT OUR CAMPAIGN TO EXPAND THE GREENWOOD CENTRE.  YOUR DONATIONS WILL HELP THE CENTRE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE A VALUABLE COMMUNITY FACILITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

The Greenwood Centre has an all-day, year-round nursery, Bumble  Bells, which provides a wonderful facility for local families but, unfortunately there is little outside space for the children to play.  However, the hall was originally an old Victorian coach house and has an adjoining cottage which is now being sold for the first time.  It has a wonderful garden and would provide extra rooms for meetings and a community cafe which would greatly enhance the Centre in being able to offer many more services to the local community.

The garden and extra space in the building would greatly improve the facilities for the nursery and for local organisations looking for evening accommodation to hire and even some daytime availability.

So we are appealing for funds to purchase the cottage and expand the Greenwood Centre.  We need at least £250,000 and hope to obtain a loan for the balance.

A little history…
After World War II, members of Toc H drew up plans for the development of Green Street Green.

Unfortunately, these proved too ambitious to succeed but, between 1949 and 1951, funds were raised to provide facilities for a community centre.

In 1952, the Greenwood Centre was opened in the converted and refurbished Coach House in the High Street, leased from Telcon Plastics, at a peppercorn rent of one shilling (5p) per annum.

The Green Street Green Association was founded in 1952 and became a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) in 2017. It is the legal owner of the Greenwood Centre, managing it for the benefit of the community.

The charity aims to maintain the quality of life and amenities in Green Street Green by keeping in touch with residents, shopkeepers and other local bodies and providing leisure activities and events for the local community.  It also offers small grants for those suffering financial hardship, in order to help young people to pursue arts, sports and musical activities and older residents to meet vets' fees for their pets.

The Greenwood Centre is a village hub, providing a nursery - a pre-school has been there since 1952.  Local clubs, family parties and other organisations use it on a regular basis and it would be a very significant loss if the building falls into disrepair.  The roof and rendering require some refurbishment which will also cost £25-30,000 and we have already raised nearly £4,000 towards this.