The History of the Greenstead Community Centre

Approximately 10 years ago, a group of residents from the Greenstead area met to identify the need for a community centre in a deprived ward of Colchester.

They established that there was nowhere for residents to meet or suitable place for organisations to offer activities and services to the community. The group became the Greenstead Community Association and registered as a charity.
 

Consultation and Planning
A ‘Planning for Real’ consultation took place to identify the wishes and needs of the community and work began to design a building which would accommodate the needs that had been identified.

The vision was to create a dynamic and widely accessed facility that would become the hub of the community.

Construction of the Greenstead Community Centre gets underway on the site of a former Petrol Station...

Raising the Funds
In 2001, £375,000 was secured from Community Fund and additional funding secured from New Opportunities Fund, Single Regeneration Bid, Colchester Borough Council and Sure Start Colchester.

Land was leased from the council on the site of a former petrol station right at the heart of the estate.

The shop fitters work on the café area...

Opening the Centre

After a number of set backs due to contamination of the land, the building which cost just over £1 million, was eventually completed in October 2003 and officially opened on November 24th of the same year by Mrs McManus, who remained unchallenged as one of the residents who had lived in the area for the longest time.
 

The finished building was opened in October 2003.

Aims and Objectives
The centre has gone from strength to strength and is close to its objective of becoming self-sufficient over its first 3 years when current funding ends.

We have a range of different regular users offering dance classes, social events, support groups, information and advice, keep fit and much more.