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From behind the façade of one of the
most unpretentious buildings in
Wimbledon
town there thrives a diverse and dynamic enterprise which is baffling in
its simplicity yet of great importance to in its public. For nearly
sixty years Wimbledon Community Centre has thrown its doors open to
those groups and individuals who need a place to practice their art,
discuss their problems, celebrate their joys and lament their sorrows.
Sometimes noisy, sometimes chaotic, sometimes joyous and sometimes
downright freezing, this mantle of embracement lends itself gladly to
the varied and the particular elements and character of the local
populace.

The enhancement of life living with
learning difficulties, coping with and struggling to overcome alcoholism,
choral practice for Mahler’s Eighth, putting paintbrush to canvas for the
first time in old age, performing the rituals and traditions of Kung-Fu,
donating one’s blood to the wellbeing of strangers, learning English as a
foreign language, keeping in touch with wartime comrades, marking the
equinoxes and solstices, the elegance, prayerfulness and fine hospitality of
the Pakistani people and discovering one’s inner self in the dramatic society.
These are some of the activities which
take place at
28 St George’s Road.
They are not organised by the community association. They are sourced and
executed by the people themselves. The association merely ensures that there
is such a place where this can happen.
“Despite a very limited income,
the Centre is always welcoming and the staff most helpful. Small problems are
dealt with with no fuss - such as microphone equipment 'doing its own thing'”.
Bobbie Pothecary
Secretary Surrey County Women's Bowling Association
“The Wimbledon
Community Centre (WCC) is an invaluable asset to the community. It provides
facilities for local groups and clubs to meet for the benefit of all. This is
particularly beneficial to smaller organisations who have limited budgets. The
Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association (WISA), is hugely thankful for
the support provided to us and other local groups by the staff at the WCC and
we look forward to working together for the benefit of the Merton Community in
the future."
Simon Wheeler
Chair, Wimbledon Independent Supporters Association (WISA)
“With total honesty
Fran, we of Phor Kune want to thank you for the support and services you have
offered us for many years. Your flexibility and consideration for our needs
has not gone unnoticed. Our members ages range from five years to at least
fifty-five years and come from all walks of society: school children, lawyers,
school teachers, students, police, and retirees to mention a few. We all
appreciate very much the community centre and it is as much a part of our
lives as are family members. With all the adversity that the community centre
has faced you have stuck with it all the way and we appreciate your efforts
very much. It is a landmark in all our journeys through life.”
Devon Ffrench
(Phor Kune Kung Fu)
The
Wimbledon Community Association
was founded in 1946 by a local group headed by Sir Cyril
Black MP with the aim to promote the well-being of the broad community
based around Wimbledon, to further cultural, social and physical
welfare, and to foster a spirit of mutual service and friendship.
An
independent registered charity, it is non-party political, non-sectarian
and non-discriminatory on any social grounds.
Today,
about 100 groups use the Community Centre annually. These cover a
multitude of self-help, leisure, educational, health, consultancy and
sporting enterprises embracing all age groups and all backgrounds.
Built on
two floors, The Community Centre sports a 160-seat main hall and seven
meeting rooms, the hiring out of which forms the Association's principal
income.
WCA has
been happy over the years to offer its facilities to the business
community and many local firms are occasional users.
The number
of person/visits over a 12-month period is estimated roughly at between
60,000 and 75,000.
We welcome
advertising which will help to enable us recover the costs of
maintaining and running this web site. The Wimbledon Community
Association is a Charity and non-profit making organisation.
The
main business of the WCA is the running of the Wimbledon Community
Centre. As the name implies, the Centre is conveniently situated in the
heart of Wimbledon, close to shops, restaurants/bars, library, theatre,
cinema, schools, etc. The town is particularly well served by public
transport with Wimbledon station (British Rail and London Transport
underground) just around the corner. A tramway links Wimbledon to
Croydon and beyond. Parking is available across the road in an
underground car park with additional car parks close by. Metered street
parking is also provided for.
The Centre
(also known as the Sir Cyril Black Community Centre
after one of the founders), offers a meeting place for a multitude of
self-help, leisure, entertainment, education, health, consultancy and
sporting enterprises. It offers a 160-seat hall with a stage and
dressing room and seven meeting rooms of various sizes and functionality,
which are for hire.
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