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ABOUT US
Who are we?
We are a group of local volunteers who run the Hurst Green Community Centre on a ‘not for profit’ basis with the help of our part-time paid Centre Manager. The Hurst Green (Surrey) Community Association is a registered charity (Charity Reg No.: 272789) which aims to “provide and maintain a facility for the use by the people of Hurst Green for social, recreation and a variety of leisure activities” as described in its charitable purposes. The original Centre, constructed in Coldshott by local volunteers, was opened in 1949 before being rebuilt at its current location in Oak Close in 1976. It therefore has a long association with the local community as its dedicated centre, making it well loved and valued. From its foundation, the Hurst Green Community Association has been governed democratically from within its membership. As a registered charity, we have are governed by a Board of Trustees who are elected and meet regularly. The Board is supported by the Management Committee, which oversees the routine management of the Centre. This Committee consists of: • the Trustees • representatives of the regular hirers • members of the local community Together, they work with advisors appointed by the local authorities.
Where are we?
Address: 4 Oak Close, Hurst Green, Surrey RH8 0BA We are behind the Pollards Oak shops, next to David Gresham House, and just a short walk from Hurst Green station and local bus stops.
What do we do?
The main activities of the entirely voluntary Trustees and Management Committee are taken up in the running of the centre, in order to maintain it for use by local people. We estimate that about 400 people use the hall on an average week. Some of the current regular hirers include Little Oaks Pre-school Nursery (day time, weekdays) and Mighty Oaks Youth Club (evenings, Fridays), which offer educational benefits via early learning and through encouraging and improving social and networking skills.
What do we have?
• a large main hall with an arched ceiling, suitable for a range of events such as parties (including with bouncy castles), shows, concerts and sports sessions – capacity 220 people • a smaller hall named The Harling Room, which is suitable for meetings, craft activities, gatherings and smaller events • a kitchen with a hatch into the main hall • female, male and wheelchair accessible toilets • a Community Garden with outdoor seating The halls are hired weekly by local groups and individuals for exercise activities such as Zumba, Badminton, Boostfit, yoga, Taekwondo and other classes like Kameo (singing). It is also used for wedding receptions, kids’ birthday parties, wakes, and social events. Voting for local elections has been held at the hall for many years. Various activities run at the centre provide safe and supportive opportunities to bring people together. In addition to the secure outdoor space, which the nursery and youth club use at the rear of the main hall, we have been growing fruit and vegetables in our Community Garden for the local Community Fridge. Our garden also provides an attractive, tranquil and welcoming space for local people, especially those without their own gardens, to visit and enjoy. The centre’s expenditures are primarily covered by hire fees. We do not have a membership arrangement – the centre is open to everyone who wishes to use or hire it, subject to our constitutional values. Hire fees are competitive to similar facilities elsewhere locally. Our aim is to support people of all backgrounds and ages, including those living with disabilities. We work with local groups such as Creative Community and The Accessibility Project to extend the use of the centre to marginalised individuals and groups. This allows us to run events at no cost to the user, and we plan to expand this initiative if we have an improved centre.
Background Information
Our constitution states the objectives of the Association are: 1. to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Hurst Green and the wider community without distinction of gender, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions, by associating together the inhabitants and local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to provide facilities recreation and leisure-time occupation. 2. to maintain and manage the community centre in furtherance of these objectives. 3. to promote such other charitable purposes as may from time to time be determined. The Association shall be non-party in politics and non-sectarian in religion.