About HWBCA

Objectives and Aims

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The charity exists to provide, run and manage the Hatch Warren and Beggarwood Community Centres and to provide social and educational facilities to improve the conditions of life for the residents of the areas defined by the boundary of the postal codes RG22 and RG23.

 

To establish, or secure the establishment, of a Community Centre and to maintain and manage the same (whether alone or in co-operation with any local authority or other person or body) in furtherance of these objects.

 

The Beggarwood Centre has been open since Feb 2018 and continues to grow in public recognition; this is now reflecting positively as footfall in Café in The Park is increasing with public awareness being boosted by families supporting local community café’s during lockdown periods of the pandemic!

 

The facility is perfect for private hire bookings, including team meetings, with amazing views over the park. The community groups are flourishing, such as Girl Guiding groups, Jiggy Wrigglers , Yoga and Beggarwood Bookworms to name but a few. Wellbeing walks starts at The Café on the first Wednesday of the month. This coincides with the community lunch, run by volunteers offering a great value quiche or soup meal deal with the chance to meet new friends.

 

Café in The Park continues to support its ethos of reaching out to the vulnerable and reducing loneliness in our community, by offering Bumps to Babies on Thursday and Friendship Friday's, hosting The Chatty Café Scheme engaging with board games and craft sessions to stimulate healthy minds. Beggarwood Bookworms meet every month and welcome anyone who enjoys reading; or would like to develop a love of reading, to discuss the book of the month over a glass of wine or cuppa and cake.

 

The Warren Youth Club run by HWBCA has been open since 2009 and is the only youth facility in Hatch Warren and Beggarwood. Our team of trained youth workers and devoted volunteers focus on encouraging inclusion for all, raising confidence, improving knowledge and awareness of what everyone can achieve, and general life skills to form them into well-rounded and actively responsible members of their community.

 LINK2 started at HWBCA in April 2021 during the pandemic, with 30 members. LINK2 provides a friendly compassionate environment for over 60 young adults with learning disabilities, supporting independent living, through life skills training, towards employment.  Preparing for independent living is key to our project; making a fresh simple meal and learning about healthy eating, balanced diet planning and personal hygiene are key aims for members to regain confidence, after isolating during the pandemic.

 

With additional grant funding, we plan targeted careers training and football coaching to complement our regular Monday social meeting. This could cover many aspects including travel training, working with money, feeling safe in the town and building up confidence away from an adult. Staff will support these groups or individuals on a planned programme or work with them to meet a specific need on a reactive basis.

 

Through our Pathways to employment training on a 1:1 basis, members will be educated about preparing for work, applying for work and understanding what is appropriate and available to them. Dilys works tirelessly and supports an average of 60 members each week.

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Internally, the management strategy has been reviewed and, as a result, the job specifications have been reviewed, the salary system has been renewed, the website has been refreshed, all Policies and Processes have been updated and the business planning has been revised.

Our Managing Trustees, the Management Committee, for the Centre for 204/25 is as follows:

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Trustee Officers

Chairperson : Nick Elms

Vice Chairperson: Jenny Bounds

Treasurer: Adriana Czop

Secretary: Pippa Barrowclough

Answering to the officers:

Executive Officer : Clare Pearce

Licensing Officer: Kelly Dillon

Anne-Marie Mealey

Mike Roberts

Iain Friar

Siobhan Keen

 

As a charity, we are reliant on volunteers to assist us in providing our excellent facilities and to support us in running interesting and relevant events for our community.  We rely on a core group of volunteers to serve in various capacities at our events by planning and running them and/or helping to manage the Association as Trustees.  We are always keen to talk with anyone interested in joining us, people who have a little time available to help run this Community Centre or those interested in assisting at an event as many hands make light work!

 

Finally, the Trustees would like to thank again our staff at both Hatch Warren and Beggarwood Centres who work long hours to manage facilities, open and close the building, and co-ordinate various events and activities.

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Future Plans - Priorities for the forthcoming year

 

We still have so much to do and have some exciting plans ahead.

 

Hatch Warren Community Centre

• To put a maintenance programme in place, for the internal decoration/refresh of the building

• Drive commercial usage to increase revenues to assist in the recovery from the impact of COVID.

• To plan and progress the need for a newly fitted commercial kitchen.

• To continue to support the NHS by providing the Bunnies Room for community health visitors to run weekly “mum and baby” support meetings and baby weighing facilities.

• To promote and support the Warren Youth Project and Health Hub

• To assist Hampshire County Council by maintaining our position of a designated Emergency Prepared Rest Centre

• To promote and support the “Link 2” project which aides’ young adults (18-30) who may need a little support.  The aim is to develop a relationship with all members and their families to get the best outcomes for their future.  They are supported on a path to grow in independence as they move into adult life, through one-to-one training and support into employment.

 

Beggarwood Community Centre

• To put a maintenance programme in place, for the internal decoration/refresh of the building

• To manage the Beggarwood Community Centre and to take it forward as a          

• self-sustainable entity

• To engage with the elder populous and to welcome those who currently feel isolated, utilising the Cafe in the Park to the full to do this.

• To become a ‘Dementia Friendly’ Centre.

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Both Centres

• To continue to run successful annual events so that surplus capital is available for improvements and maintaining the services at both community centres.

• To continue marketing through social media and updated Web facilities 

• To continue building relationships with local employers, schools, religious groups etc

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Structure, Governance and Management

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes an incorporated charity.