Cottenham Community Centre is a registered charity, with a mission to provide social facilities in the heart of the village, accessible to all residents. The charity was formed after the Methodist circuit made the building available to the community for the benefit of village residents.
The key elements of the project are to provide a central location for meeting and social activities including a coffee shop, mother and toddler play area, local art and produce sales, youth and senior citizen drop-in areas and recreational activity centres, facilities for clubs/groups to meet/practice, space for performances, dancing and art exhibitions, advice and information displays on local facilites and heritage.
Following a public meeting in January 2009 the constitution was adopted, the officers and trustees appointed and the serious work of developing the business plan and fundraising began.
Fund raising efforts have been across a number of fronts including grant issuing authorities, local government / businesses plus our own Community Centre Membership scheme.
Unfortuantely, the credit crunch and global financial crisis coincided with the fundraising efforts and it has proven difficult to raise the necessary funds to fully refurbish the centre before the planned officially opening in September 2010.
The business plan has consequently been adapted to open parts of the centre, with limited facilities following volunteer refurbishment, from June 2009. The main areas that will open at that point are the old School Hall and Ante rooms which have recently had a diy make-over and will utilise the existing kitchen and toilet facilities.
The other areas of the complex will be bought into use progressively as and when refurbishment funding/grants become available. It is anticipated that the official opening may now be delayed until 2011. Your views are vitally important in deciding the priority for bringing facilities on-line in the new centre.
Village 'Needs' Survey
As a result of the delayed plan the trustees have commisioned a survey of residents to establish the communities priorities for providing the planned facilities. A short survey designed to gather your views can be found here. It will take less than 5 minutes to complete the questionaire and by doing so, you will make your sure your views are taken into account when the refurbishment/service provision priorites are set. There is the added incentive of a years free membership going to a lucky survey respondant, drawn from the hat, at the end of the survey in August 2009. Remember you have to be 'in it to win it', why not visit the survey right now to make your views known and ensure you have the opportunity of winning a years free Cottenham Community Centre membership!