News

Read our recent news and announcements below.

You can also view our newsletters on the Reports and Newsletters page and you can sign up to receive our newsletters here.

New cardiac exercise group starting

21st February 2024   View     Author: Nick Aked

The Cambrian Community Centre is a launching a cardiac exercise group programme from Friday 8th 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).


Gym News – Extended Opening Hours from 5th February

25th January 2024   View     Author: David Lemon

We are delighted to announce that we will be extending the gym opening hours from Monday 5th February. This is in line with requests from our survey of users in 2023 and in the light of increased usage of the gym. 

A new afternoon/early evening session will run on Mondays from 3pm to 7pm. There will also be a session on Wednesday afternoons from 12-3pm.  These opening hours will run until June 2024 at which point we will review take up of the new slots. Please do make use of the new sessions and if you like the service mention it to your friends and family!

Please note that bookings for the new slots won't be able to made on the website until Thurdsay 1st February.

In addition to the new gym slots we will be launching a new cardiac group session. This will be established later in the year. If you are interested please mention it to the gym team and we will make a note to contact you when more information on the group session is available.

As always if there are any questions on this please feel free to email or call the centre.


Energy Efficiency Advice Session

21st November 2023   View     Author: David Lemon

We are delighted to be hosting a visit by Clare from the South West London Energy Advice Partnership (SWLEAP) on Wednesday 29th November as part of the Real Junk Food Cafe Session (so pop in get a lovely warm lunch as well!).

As temperatures drop and worries about energy bills rise SWLEAP will offer practical advice and guidance to reduce bills and increase the energy efficiency of your home. This includes fitting LEDs, radiator foils and draught proofing. Clare will also have a number of free warm home packs for people who may benefit.

The session runs from 11.30-1.30 on Wednesday 29th November.


From Plot to Pot – Cambrian Centre forges links with local allotments

26th October 2023   View     Author: Nick Aked

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


Your Community Centre Week and Vintage Bus Tours

18th September 2023   View     Author: David Lemon

We were delighted at the response to the first ever Your Community Centre week in Richmond. During the week 10 local community centres worked together to promote the richness and diversity of activities and experience available in the borough. Two vintage bus tours took passengers on tour of the borough's Centres with a commentary provided by Angela Ivey of Visit Richmond. At the destination points (Whitton Centre on Tuesday 12th and Castelnau Centre on Friday 15th) passengers were treated to a classic cream tea and musical entertainment. Both of these tours sold out. We hope to run the week again in 2024. Our thanks to everyone who took part!


Your Community Centre Week Starts today!

11th September 2023   View     Author: David Lemon

Richmond upon Thames, is fortunate enough to have ten independent community centres, each providing services, activities, support and facilities that contribute to lively community life in our lovely borough.

We are delighted to be taking part in the first Your Community Centre Week in Richmond. The week is a chance to shine a spotlight on the fantastic activities provided in the Community Centres found in the borough. There will also be two vintage bus tours taking passengers on a magical mystery tour around the participating centres.

We have produced the following map to outline the participating centres.


21st June 4pm Country Roads Musical Theatre Show

15th June 2023   View     Author: David Lemon

Please mosey on down to the Cambrian Centre for a free musical theatre performance by the Rah Rah Theatre Co on 21st June at 4pm. Country Roads is a Country and Western themed show for young and old featuring all the great Country and Western hits. The show will take place in the atrium of Dickson House.


Visit by Sarah Olney MP

14th April 2023   View     Author: David Lemon

The Cambrian Community Centre was delighted to host a visit by Sarah Olney MP last week to see the new Real Junk Food Cafe session running at the Centre on a Wednesday. The project utilises surplus food from local supermarkets to make a fresh and healthy lunch for visitors. There is also the opportunity to take home surplus food. The cafe and food distribution works on a "pay as you feel" basis and has been very well received by everyone who has visited. If you haven't tried it, please come down and visit. Sarah enjoyed a lunch of soup, chicken couscous and dessert and enjoyed chatting to the local residents. The cafe is open every Wednesday 11.30-1.30.


Bank Holiday Closures

24th March 2023   View     Author: David Lemon

The Gym and Community Centre will be closed for the upcoming bank holidays. These are

Friday 7th April

Monday 10th April

Monday 1st May

Monday 8th May (Coronation)

Monday 29th May


Real Junk Food Project Cafe Launches 15th March

9th March 2023   View     Author: David Lemon

We are delighted that on Wednesday 15th March the Real Junk Food Project will be starting to offer lunches and surplus food distribution from the Cambrian Community Centre. The cafe will be open from 11.30-1.30 for "pay as you feel" lunches. We look forward to welcoming you!