Open Days Announced for People to Discover their Local Community Centre

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council is encouraging people to discover what’s going on inside their local community centre. Open Days showcasing the community centres as places to connect, relax or try something new will be taking place at all three centres over the next few weeks.

• Woodhatch Community Centre Open Day and BBQ, Saturday 27 August, 10am to 3pm
• Horley Community Centre Open Day with Fish ‘n’ Chips, Thursday 15 September, 10am to 3pm
• Banstead Community Centre Open Day, Thursday 29 September, 10am to 4pm

Since the Council resumed its running of the centres in 2020, it has been working with centre users, volunteers and staff to develop a broader offer that will appeal to all ages.

Recent additions to the long list of low-cost activities available include a range of sessions for preschool children and carers at Woodhatch and Horley Community Centres. Whether it’s Jingle Bugs, Stay & Play or Robot Reg, these are opportunities to meet other carers and their children in a fun and creative environment. Coming soon will be a revamped Coffee Bar at Horley Community Centre and an extension of the popular IT support sessions to Banstead Community Centre.

Councillor Rod Ashford, Executive Member for Community Partnerships said: “Despite lockdowns over the last couple of years, our staff continue to work tirelessly to transform the council’s three community centres into vibrant multi-use community spaces offering something for all our residents.

“Our new-look community centres are at the heart of their communities, offering something for all ages. I’m really hoping everyone takes the opportunity to pop in to one of our Open Days to meet the staff and volunteers, sample our home-cooked menus and find out what the centres have on offer. My team and I will be on hand all day to welcome you – to listen to your comments and chat about ideas for future activities and events at our centres.”

The Council’s community centres are open five days a week and offer a welcoming environment to keep fit, get creative, or just catch up with friends over coffee or lunch. Healthy and affordable snacks and hot lunches are prepared daily by chefs on site and visitors to the Open Days will be able to sample the new autumn menu.

The Open Days will also be an opportunity to explore the range of rooms available to hire. As well as providing a low-cost venue for private events and meetings, organisations, groups or residents can apply for free venue hire at the Horley and Woodhatch community centres for projects that benefit the mental or physical health of the community, funded through East Surrey Place.

The centres already host a number of valuable community services, including the Council’s Food Clubs, Community Fridge, money support sessions, and much more.

To find out more about the Council’s community centres visit reigate-banstead.gov.uk/community-centres