Over 300 visit the Trust’s newly refurbished Greenham Community Centre

Greenham Community Centre was packed on Saturday with over 300 visitors eager to see how new owner Greenham Common Trust had transformed the Nightingales facility.

They were so impressed with the £300,000 refurbishment, which included a new stage, youth room, kitchen, toilets and roof that three new community organisations have already asked to hold classes and sessions at the new centre. 

Newbury MP Richard Benyon kicked off the celebrations by declaring the centre open for the whole community to enjoy and local residents took part in competitions, hog roasts, face painting, balloon twisting, a bouncy castle and martial arts display. The Willows School Choir, from across the road, also gave a fabulous performance.

The Trust launched a photography competition from local residents to have a chance to have their photographs framed and exhibited at the centre and the chance to win family cinema tickets courtesy of VUE Newbury. The theme is ‘What does living in Greenham mean to me?’ There are three age categories: under 10s, under 18s and Over 18s. Entries can be colour or black and white. Digital entries (high resolution jpg please) need to be emailed to [email protected] or A4 hard copy photographs posted to: Greenham Community Centre photo competition, Liberty House, The Enterprise Centre, Greenham Business Park, Newbury RG19 6HW. Deadline is Friday February 24th and the winners will be announced on March 1. Remember to put your name, address, contact telephone number and the age category on your entry. 

There was also a serious message behind the day with Stop Loan Sharks and Community Savings and Loans there to offer financial help and advice to local residents. West Berkshire Council, housing associations, Sovereign South & West, Sanctuary Housing and Greenham’s Police Community Support Officers were there to explain how they are working closely with CYP and other Greenham organisations to provide community advice to tenants about helping to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour and improving the quality of life for the neighbourhood. Young Dad’s TV, a new organisation which uses social media to support young fathers, was also there to give, news, advice, opportunities and support for young fathers.  

Community Youth Project (CYP) community youth worker Jenny McIntyre, who manages the centre and youth club, said: “I would like to personally thank CYP staff and all of the Greenham volunteers for the fantastic effort they made into making the fun day and opening such a success. We’ve already had several community group bookings, someone wants to start football skills training here and we’ve got a wedding reception booking!
Our big thanks to Greenham Common Trust for breathing life back into this building and the help they gave for the opening event.”

Greenham Common Trust spokesman Julian May said: “Thanks to the hard work of Jenny and her team of dedicated volunteers the fun day and opening was a huge success. We are delighted that the community has taken such an interest in the new centre and hope that local residents will help to shape it into a crucial hub for the local community.”

For more information about Greenham Community Centre please visit the website www.greenham.org or call 01635 522566. For more information about Community Youth Project please visit www.communityyouth.org