Author: Nick Aked

I am very pleased to announce Karen King’s appointment as Charity Director of the Cambrian Community Centre.

Karen is currently Manager of Ham and Petersham SOS. She will be moving to her new role with the Cambrian Community Centre with effect from 3rd June 2024.

The Charity Director post is a new part-time post, equivalent to 3 days a week, and is in addition to the existing staff team at the Centre. Karen will focus on developmental and strategic work and support for the Trustee Board as well as taking overall responsibility for the Centre. David Lemon’s role as Centre Manager remains substantially the same – he is responsible for all operational matters in relation to the Centre.

This new post is an exciting step change for the Centre and will enables us to continue to grow what’s on offer.

We have been able to increase the Centre’s staffing in this way as a result of grant funding we have received, most notably a three-year core cost grant from Richmond Parish Land’s Charity, for which we are grateful.

Sue Pendle, Chair of Trustees

The Cambrian Community Centre is a launching a cardiac exercise group programme from Friday 8^th March. It will take place from 1.30 to 2.30 pm. The group will be led by David Ollington, a qualified cardiac exercise practitioner, and will be primarily working with people with a cardiac health condition. The group will include warm up and warm down with a cardiac health focus.

Regular exercise is known to benefit health and can improve the long-term prognosis of people who develop Cardio-Vascular disease by improving their cardiovascular fitness. Current guidelines state that to gain health benefits we all need to do physical activity on most days of the week, at a moderate intensity level for at least 30 minutes. The new group will be a friendly and supportive environment for those seeking to achieve this.

For more information or to enrol please email manager@cambriancentre.org or call 0208 332 1102 (Cambrian gym).

The Cambrian Centre is linking up with nearby Manor Road Allotments to boost supplies of fresh fruit and veg to the Reak Junk Food Café, which takes place at the Centre every Wednesday lunchtime.  The increasingly popular café provides hot and healthy meals in a welcoming atmosphere at the Centre every Wednesday on a pay-as-you-feel basis.

Centre trustees and supporters have got together with local allotment-holders to build a supply chain of seasonal fruit and vegetables that will minimise food waste and foster community engagement between the two organisations.

Manor Road Allotment committee have set aside a plot at their site beside North Sheen station to grow produce for community use, particularly through the Centre.  Chair Bill Collis, who helped launch the scheme, encourages individual plotholders to donate their own surplus fruit and veg.

Pumpkins, courgettes, spinach, rhubarb and apples fresh from the allotment are already entering the café’s cooking pots, supplementing supermarket surplus and enlivening adventurous and nutritious menus.

Plans for winter planting in the community plot are under way and will be guided by the Centre’s requirements. Allotmenteers are invited to visit the café on Wednesdays and familiarise themselves with the Centre’s activities.

Liz Nash 25 October 2023

Why not try some of the fun and life enhancing activities on offer at the Cambrian Community Centre this year?

Mondays- Zumba 9-10 Choir 12-2 and Pilates 2.20-4 (two groups)

Tuesdays- Yoga 10-11 Table Tennis 2pm-4pm and Creative Writing (1^st Tuesday of the month)

Wednesdays- The Real Junk Food Café (starting Feb 2023) Richmond Good Neighbours Tea afternoons 2^nd Wednesday of the month) Kids Capoeira

Fridays- Drawing 10-12- Papier mache 1-3 Local Cllr advice surgery 4.30-7.30pm (Last Friday)

For information on other sessions delivered by Learn English at Home, Richmond Ballet, Hartbeeps, Kim’s Crochet, Life drawing and others please visit the What’s On page or contact the Centre.

You would be joining an established and active Trustee Board which oversees the direction and management of the Centre. The Board meets every other month, on Tuesday evenings at 7.00 pm, and there is some work and/or meetings to take forward specific tasks, in between the formal meetings.

We are looking for people who will be actively involved in the work of the Trustee Board and who are committed to ensuring the Centre is managed effectively and fulfilling its charitable purpose. You should be able to work effectively as part of a team of people and have the capacity to contribute to discussions on the future developments and the general and financial management of the Centre.

Whilst not essential we would be particularly interested in hearing from people who might have a backgrounds in the health service, gym management, grant based fundraising or marketing and This is an opportunity to get involved and to support the Centre in its work.

For more information please contact David Lemon, Centre Manager at
manager@cambriancentre.org or by phone on 0208 9483351

Three items of new equipment were installed in the gym in early June and are now ready to use.

The two other new items, also made by Technogym, are the Pec Deck and the Abductor. They both use the latest technology and will improve our provision significantly.

The Centre is very grateful to LBRUT Civic Pride and to the Local Area Fund for the grants which have enabled us to acquire this new equipment.

The Centre is one of the venues chosen for the Richmond Art House Exhibition taking place on 11-12th June from 11 am.

There will be a series of still life pictures on display from our Drawing Group where students are taught the traditional drawing skills of perspective, line, tone, composition and colour theory. This dynamic art exhibition is a celebration of emerging from Covid!

Fantastical figures by our Papiermâché Group will also be on show. These sculptures have been inspired by the Mexican tradition best known for the “Day of the Dead” figures. They are made with flour and water paste, recycled papers, wire and other salvaged bits and pieces.

Sunshine greeted the Cambrian Community Centre’s Open Day on Saturday May 28^th – making it possible to place bric-à-brac stalls outside and attract people on the lookout for that perfect vase, stuffed elephant or set of table mats – things none of us really need but discovering them feels like fun.

The light-hearted feeling continued inside with delicious refreshments, a crochet demo, tours of the gym, Guess the Weight of the Cake, a bookstall brimming with must-have paperbacks and delightful entertainment from actor, Geoffrey Drew, and folk-guitarist, Johnny.

Thanks to David Lemon, Centre Manager, and to the Trustees and Volunteers for putting on the Open Day. It was great to meet everyone, hear what else you want us to offer in the future, and talk about our plans for a Community Café at the Centre.