Your Southgate Community Centre is situated alongside Hardwick Shopping Precinct, the Macebearer pub and Hardwick Primary School. It was built by the Borough Council in the late 70’s and leased to the Southgate Community Association to which an annual grant was given, but ownership of the building remained with the Borough. In 2010, the Council decided to dispose of all of its community centres, and sought expressions of interest from local people who were prepared to take on the ownership and management on an entirely self-supporting basis. Responding to the challenge, the Community Association and Southgate Church formed a new charity, the Southgate Community Partnership (SCP), to take on the Centre. In October 2011, at a special ceremony the handover took place.
Local people are now totally responsible for the Centre and own the building. Well over £30000 has been invested to improve facilities over the past three years. Over 20 groups use the facilities on a regular basis with 300 + people enjoying activities each week. We welcome bookings for ad hoc events and social functions with hire rates being very competitive.
Our exciting events over the next few months
BINGO – EYES DOWN FOR A FULL HOUSE
There is a monthly Bingo evening at the Community Centre at 7pm on a Friday evening. The first ones in the New Year are on Friday X January and Friday Y February. Come along for a relaxing fun evening – refreshments are served.
VALENTINE’S BALL
Saturday 14 February 2015
7 pm – Midnight
Book your place now for Southgate’s first Valentine’s Day Ball to be held in the Community Centre Main Hall. Tickets are £35 per head and will include a welcome drink, a three course professionally cooked meal with wine, and live entertainment with the Marrakesh Swing Band. The Ball will raise funds for the Restart the Heart defibrillator appeal, together with the West Suffolk Hospital Charity and St Nicholas Hospice Care.
Contact us on 01284 703705 or email office@southgatecommunity.org.uk
INTERNATIONAL OPERA STAR COMES TO SOUTHGATE
International opera star Jonathan Viera performs his critically acclaimed one-man show An Audience with … described as an evening of laughter and song – Saturday 14 March at 730 pm in the Main Hall of the Community Centre. Further details from Bob Jones on 07711 619980 or email bob.jones@tesco.net \Presented by Southgate Church.
COMMUNITY FUNDAY 15
May the Forth Be with You! Following the great success of our Community Fun Day on May Day Monday last year we are already planning the next one on Monday 4 May 2015 which we will be even bigger and better. Last year we had bouncy castles and obstacle courses, stalls, refreshments, live entertainment from two local bands, fancy dress, climbing wall, pony rides, chocolate bingo, face painting and lots more – with the day kicking off with a schools soccer competition. The event raised nearly £700 for the defibrillator appeal. If you are interested in having a stall or arranging an activity, contact Andy Abbott on mail@abbott-photography.co.uk
Be there on Monday 4 May – on the Hardwick Primary School field and Southgate Community Centre.
TRIP TO LONDON – Saturday 16 May
The Community Partnership is organising another of its ever popular coach trips to the Capital on Saturday 16 May. You leave the Home Farm Lane bus stop at 9 am to be dropped at London’s Embankment close to Cleopatra’s Needle, with the return trip departing at 7 pm. This gives you plenty of time for sightseeing, shopping or taking in a West End matinee – all of this for just £15 a head. Pre-booking is essential – but hurry places are snapped up very quickly!
And finally, last but by no means least …
RESTART THE HEART – OUR COMMUNITY’S DEFIBRILLATOR APPEAL
Do you know anyone who has a heart problem? Automatic defibrillators are used to restart the heart following a cardiac arrest. They are installed in public places and can safely be used by anyone whilst waiting for the arrival of an ambulance. The first four minutes are vital. They have already saved many lives.
There are already several in Bury but none in our locality. The Southgate Community Partnership decided to fundraise for one to be installed outside of our Community Centre – also to serve the shops, pub and primary school. We started in May last year with a target of £2500 and we have raised around £800 to date – with the proceeds of our Fun Day and a generous gift from Southgate Church. Our aim is to get a defibrillator installed in our area during 2015 – watch this space!
Get Involved! There is no charge to become a member of the SCP – so why not join? This will give you the opportunity to attend meetings where the future of the Centre is discussed, help make it an even better place for local people to relax, and to join our group of trustees.
To find out anything about the Centre or any of the activities taking place, contact the Centre Manager – Jackie Tooley – on 01284 703705 or email office@southgatecommunity.org.uk She is in the office on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays – there is also a 24 hour voicemail available.
Groups meeting regularly at the Centre, include:
Ballroom and Latin Dance classes
Baton Twirling classes (combination of dance, gym, baton & pom-poms)
Bury St Edmunds Bridge Club
Bury St Edmunds Organ and Keyboard Club
Dancing Stars (Dance with Mummy, Adult tap, Little Stars Ballet and Musical Stars classes)
Indian Classical Dance classes for children
Parent and Toddler Groups on Monday mornings, Wednesday mornings (in Church Centre) and Thursday afternoons
Positively Crafty and Paper Crafting Groups
Positive Steps exercise class
Slimming World, Monday afternoons/evenings and Friday mornings
Southgate Church, Sunday morning services and mid-week groups for all ages
Southgate Group – weekly social/craft meetings
Southgate Opportunities – craft, drama, dancing, for adults with learning difficulties
Upbeat Coffee mornings
Watercolour painting classes
Zumba and Zumba Gold
