Community Choir Mondays 12.00-2.00

Everyone is welcome to come along and join us in our friendly community choir. We look at a wide range of songs, singing in harmony and learning to free our voices along the way.

This term the group will be working on The Water is Wide (folk song), Knowing Me, Knowing You (Abba) and Happy Days are Here again/Get Happy (Mash up of two old classics sung originally by Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland). They will be looking at some songs we were already looking at last term too, for example the Boxer and Over the Rainbow.

Led by Deirdre O’Kelly, who has been teaching singing and leading choirs for over 20 years the choir is a fun, friendly and musical start to the week. First session free subsequently £6 per session.

Gentle Yoga Tuesdays 10.00-11.00

This beginners class provides gentle exercise and relaxation. It can help posture and balance and give you valuable time and space to clear your mind and unwind.

Led by Noreen Donovan who has many years experience of yoga teaching for all ages and ability ranges.First session free subsequently £6 per session.

Please check our website or contact us for more information about activities at the Centre.

To sign up please email us at manager@cambriancentre.org

Following our recent survey we are delighted to be able to offer a new Pilates session at the Centre as requested by users. Sessions will start from Monday 12th September between 3 and 4pm. The sessions will be run by Lucy Tomlinson from Welcome Pilates who says..

“Pilates strengthens the body and mind, improves flexibility, mobility and stability, encourages body awareness and prevents injury. Our classes are designed for all levels and we welcome everyone, even if you’ve never tried Pilates before.”

Session will cost £6 with the first a free taster. Please email or call for more information or to book a place.

The Cambrian Centre was delighted to welcome Sarah Olney MP for Richmond Park to the Centre recently. Sarah took part in our Friday drawing group. She was very impressed with the creativity on display. She also visited the Cambrian gym and saw our new pieces of equipment in operation. She was interested to learn how the gym contributes to health and well being in the area and in particular how the gym offers a bespoke rehabilitation and reconditioning service to users.

The Cambrian gym is open Monday to Friday 9-3 and Saturdays 10-2. Drawing takes place every Friday 10-12.30. Please contact us for further information

In the light of the recent forecast and weather warnings for Monday and Tuesday 18th/19th July we have decided to close the gym for these days. We will be open as usual from Wednesday 20th July. Thanks for bearing with us.

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.

Please note the gym will be closed for the Easter bank holiday on Friday 15th and Monday 18th April. We hope you all have a lovely Easter weekend!

Many thanks to all those who responded to our recent survey. We had an amazing response and we greatly value your feedback.

In response to your survey answers we will be making the following changes to the gym operation.

1. To move to 55 minute sessions.  Starting 4th April 2022
2. We will retain the online booking system and aim to stick to a maximum of 6 per session. (Please note that on rare occasions this number may be exceeded.)
3. We will purchase a new Cross Fit trainer after successful fundraising. This will take around 6-8 weeks to be installed
4. We will also be purchasing a new pec deck and leg abductor machine
5. We will investigate the provision of new group activities- esp Cardiac, Pilates and Bums Legs and Tums
6. We will also investigate the possibility of a later slot (10-4 maybe)
7. We will ask gym users to try to limit times on machines to 10 minutes- Instructors will try and esnsure this happens- we will moving the PC screen so that instructors are looking out onto the gym.
8. We will also retain on the hours starts and ask you to try and attend and leave promptly to allow for a smooth flow of users in and out of the gym.

We were very pleased to have so many postive responses! Many thanks for these!

If you want to contact the team at the Cambrian Community Centre please phone on 020 8948 3351, or email to manager@cambriancentre.org

As always, thank you for your support,

David Lemon,
Manager, Cambrian Community Centre.