Clubs, Classes & Sports

What's On

Thursday 19 October 2017

Community Centre's Tenth Birthday

The current Milford on Sea Village Community Centre opened in September 2010 replacing the 'Old' Community Centre which had simply been portacabins since 2007. 

The Community Centre is now ten years old, and has been a great success in offering a wide range of activities for all ages. There are many entertainment events, films, exercise groups, clubs and classes housed in the Centre aimed at whatever the village community requires.

The main hall and the adjacent kitchen can cater for parties, exhibitions and concerts. The smaller committee room houses workshops and meetings. The youth room, as well as providing a meeting place for young people, can be hired for craft workshops or small parties.

Community Centre until Sept 2009
In addition a separate studio has been equipped for dance and exercise.

The Community Centre also has a Cafe, which has free internet access from 9am to 4pm on weekdays and 10am to 1pm on Saturdays.

Most recently the Community Centre have purchased the adjacent land and are currently evaluating the best way to use this new expansion opportunity. Click here for more information.

David Young 
David Young, a Chartered Surveyor with 50 years experience, spoke at the Lymington & District Probus Club held at Elmer's Court Country Club on Monday 20th December 2010. David explained the saga of the efforts required to raise the funds for and the building of the new community centre in Milford on Sea.

David’s story started in 2001 when with £5001 in the bank a small committee mainly of parish councillors sought to replace a hundred year old hall with a traditional design which had cost £5000 to design and obtain full planning permission. The site was cleared and a temporary structure was built to house a nursery on a 5 year lease. During this time a revised committee with a number of professionals worked on an improved idea. By buying the temporary building with a grant in 2006 and using it as a community hall a detailed business case was developed and fund raising began in earnest. The Lottery was approached for £500,000 and matching funds had to be pledged through the NFDC, HCC and the Parish Council, plus some government agencies supporting both youth activities and eco-friendly construction. In 2008 a detailed business plan was finalised and an eco-friendly design produced. The lottery grant was obtained and the pledges fulfilled such that the new building was completed in a year and now is fully utilised with facilities for stage work, internet cafĂ©, youth centre, kitchen able to cater for 200 people and a committee room for 16 members. The structure has a special ventilation system, is largely made of wood and highly insulated. A key feature is the wood pellet burning boiler which is unique and brings its own challenges.

A Community Centre was opened in the portacabin format on 27th October 2007 .

click image to enlarge
To celebrate their 10th Birthday, the Community Centre is holding a song and dance evening featuring Axel and the Big Wheels and local band, the Empty Frets. Tickets are available now and details can be found on the poster to the right.







Milford on Sea Village Community Centre
2 Sea Road, Milford on Sea, SO41 0PU
01590 644861

No comments:

Post a Comment

Please Note: Your comment will be approved by the administrator before publication. This could take 24 to 48 hours. Thank you.