HILLFIELDS Park Community Centre has been welcoming people back through its doors after reopening to the public.
The centre off Thicket Avenue, formerly known as Hillfields Community Hub, closed in March last year.
After a massive effort and fundraising campaign by new operators Hillfields Community Garden, the centre held its first open session for residents – a ‘stay and play’ taster session for under-fives – on July 14.
It also held community cafe and community lunch sessions before the end of the month, has welcomed organised groups and started to take bookings.
Centre coordinator Sam Hickman said 28 children and carers came to the first free play session, with 35 coming along the following week.
She said: “The entire sports hall was full, so there’s obviously a need in the community for it.
“The community cafe was also really busy – every table was taken up. We’re really pleased with the reaction so far.”
Community kitchen lead Misty Tunks said the first community cafe session included cakes with locally-produced ingredients, cooked by volunteers. The first community lunch included ratatouille made with locally-grown courgettes.
Misty would like to hear from any local food producers who have excess produce, such as allotment holders, and from residents with ideas about what should be served.
She said: “We’re doing our best to use as many locally-sourced, donated ingredients as we can, and we’d love to have more.
“We feel it’s very important to include the diverse range of people in Hillfields – we’re not assuming everyone is a vegetarian or will eat cheese, for example. We need the community to come to us and tell us what you want – and help us to cook it.”
The centre is currently open on Wednesdays from 10am to 3pm, Thursdays from 10am to 5pm and Fridays from noon to 3pm during August. A free open day, with activities, food and games, will be held on September 6 from noon to 5pm.
More details about the centre can be found online at hillfieldscommunitygarden.co.uk
Its meeting rooms, art room, sports hall, foyer and kitchen are open for bookings. For details email bookings@hillfieldscommunitygarden.co.uk.