FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF THE

WOODHATCH CENTRE

The bad news is that the Council's budget for the Community Centres

will be cut next year and our Centre Manager, Gina Pinion,

will be made redundant as from 31st March.

After extensive discussions with the Council's Officers and the

Managerment Committees of the other two Centre's,

it has been agreed that:

1. There will be a Manager shared between the three Centres;
2. The Centre Assistants will be paid overtime to fill some gaps;
3. Additional cover will be provided by Tom Kealey (Manager of the Harlequin Theatre) and his assistant.

We have been given an undertaking that:

• There will be no change next year to the remainder of our community centre funding and
• Our overall funding will remain at the 1st April 2010 level for a least two years.

During the coming year we will monitor to find out whether this arrangement is satisfactory and what level of management is needed at the Centre.

Meantime, we will intensify our efforts to increase the income of the Centre so that, if necessary, we can buy in extra management.

I would like to thank everyone for the tremendous letter writing compaign - the Town Hall received nearly 800 letters and a petition with over 500 names on it.  It was heartening to learn just how much everyone in our community values the Centre and the tremendous vote of confidence in the work of our Manager, Gina Pinion.

MIchael Ormerod

Chair, Woodhatch Community Association.

The Woodhatch Community Association was founded in 1986. Its purpose is to promote the benefits of the inhabitants of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead south of the M25. In particular, it was established to provide facilities for the recreation and leisure of local people, including a community centre.

Its major activity is to run the Woodhatch Centre in partnership with Reigate & Banstead Borough Council. The Centre was awarded Charter Marks by the Cabinet Office in 1999 and 2003.

We also have a Sub-Section, the Woodhatch Park Project, which is building the Woodhatch Park on the land adjoining Woodhatch and Dovers Green Roads.

The Association governed by its General Management Committee.

The Woodhatch Centre is open 7 days a week. We have a variety of rooms for hiring, ranging from small meeting rooms to our dining room, which will seat up to 100 people. We have special rates for community groups.

There is Internet access available in our computer room

The Woodhatch 50+ Club has facilities in the Centre for retired people from 09:30 am to 4 pm on Monday to Friday. These include a wide range of activities.

We have a full programme of day outings and holidays.

To enquire about lettings, the Woodhatch 50+ Club, volunteering or the Woodhatch Community Association generally, please contact:

The Woodhatch Centre,
Whitebeam Drive,
Reigate,
RH2 7LS
Telephone: 01737 271030
email: woodhatch.centre@sweethaven.biz

The site is currently being developed and so we would be especially pleased to receive your comments. Send any suggestions, features for the newsletters, or indeed any ideas that you feel may be useful to our Chair, Michael Ormerod.