Raise The Roof!

The Old School Centre began life in 1997 when a new primary school was built on land nearby. Through a sustained community campaign the funds were raised to purchase the building (which was originally opened as a school in 1876), the adjacent School House and the playground and then to undertake a first phase of refurbishment to open it as a community centre. The Centre has proved financially sustainable since its opening and has been able to repay over £140,000 borrowed from local residents towards the purchase. It is managed and run by volunteers, with the support of a part-time manager.

The Centre has developed since 1997, responding to the needs of the South Brent Community. When the doors first opened the focus was largely on adult education and support. This is still a core part of the work but the capacity of the centre has expanded over the years to serve a broad range of ages, groups and abilities, becoming a vibrant and vital hub within the village and local area.

Since April 2012 we have supported South Brent and District Caring to provide trained volunteers to help elderly, isolated and vulnerable local residents by offering befriending, practical support and affordable transport. In addition, we support and/or provide a venue for a range of other community activities and services including (but not limited to):

Post Office

Lloyds bank

ShareShed library of things

Community library

Community archive

Bike bank

Community fridge

Warm room

Sustainable South Brent hub

Corridor gallery

In addition, we are hosting and working in partnership with ArtHouse - an arts and crafts space for making, mending and meeting: www.arthousesouthbrent.com

Unfortunately, our building fabric is aging, and the roof in particular requires increasingly regular and expensive repairs to keep out the weather. So, we need to raise funds to replace the entire roof (in stages, or at one fell swoop), incorporating solar panels which we foresee will provide enough electricity for the entire centre, as well as providing a surplus to sell back to the national grid.

This is an ambitious project, but it is essential to ensure that current and future activities can continue, and that the centre can remain open and vibrant for future generations in the village and surrounding area.

Please give whatever you feel able - we will be grateful for every donation, however large or small.