About

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 the café 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, Caterpillar Music, Yoga, Move it or Lose it, Pilates and Beggarwood Bookworms to name but a few. BDBC instigated the Walking for Health event to start at The Café on the first and third Wednesday of the month. This coincides with the community lunch, run by volunteers offering a great value meal 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 community soup lunches and Friendship Friday's, 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.

 

The OFSTED registered After School Club, established in 2013, is very well liked by all that attend, and we continue to receive positive testimonials regularly.  The team of experienced staff collect children from their (local) schools (Hatch Warren Infant & Junior school and St Mark's Primary school) and walk back to the centre with them.  They ensure they have a lot of fun during the time they are in our care, as well as serving a home cooked, hot light tea.  Odette Pazos Gonzalez is the Manager of HWCA ASC and is full of enthusiasm and commitment to the group. 

 

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 2021/22 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

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Committe Members

Kelly Dillon

Sandrine Dufour-Mantere

Anne-Marie Mealey

Mike Roberts

 

 

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.

 

FUTURE PLANS - PRIORITIES FOR THE FORTHCOMING YEAR

 

Whilst much has been achieved, we still have so much to do and have some exciting plans ahead; To continue.

-  managing the Beggarwood Community Centre and to take it forward as a self-sustainable entity (business planning, grant funding and fundraising initiatives are in hand).

 

-  engaging with the elder populous and to welcome those who currently feel isolated, to our friendly community café.

 

-  supporting and promoting the Warren Youth Project.

-  supporting LINK2 project to provide a friendly supportive environment for young adults with learning disabilities and their families who can find life challenging.  We support them on a path to growing independence as they move into adult life.   and to take it forward as a self-sustainable entity (grant funding and fundraising initiatives are in hand).

 

-  running successful annual events so that surplus capital is available for centre improvements; kitchen refurbishments and maintaining the services at both community centres.

 

-  marketing through social media and updated Web facilities.

 

-  assisting Hampshire County Council by confirming our position of a designated Emergency Prepared Rest Centre.

 

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

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