11/06/2026
Thank you all for your comments to our last 2 posts. Seems a lot of people didn't realise we are charity based. The building belongs to SBC & we rent the centre. We are run by Pin Green Association are charity no. is 302476. We have a group of trustees & have just welcomed 2 new trustees. The Friends of Hampson Park also work with us. They are responsible for the Art in the Park last wknd. Up & coming events held in the park. Music in the Park on 20th June starts at 6pm to 9pm, The Teddy Bear Picnic, Sports in the park. These events help the trade in our coffee shop.
The craft fayers (in May/October) Quiz nights & Table top are events put on by the centre to raise money & we rely on the stalls holders & those taking part to help support us to raise money. On craft days we are thankful for the stalls holders donation to our centre raffle saving us cost on prizes and appriate those who buy tickets. We have to do cash only as banks take a percentage when card payments are done. Though we know a lot dont carry cash but do advertise cash only raffle.
As for those wishing to use our toilets that are not using the centre is fine as we understand about when nature calls. Though would be nice to ask when office is open, we not going to say no it shows respect for the centre. Also if a sml donation given it would be really appreciated. Every bit helps the centre run.
Of course a lot of things are not realised by the public is the cost of supplies. For example one of our floor cleaning products to help bring the dirt of the corridor floor is from £25/£27 for 5 litres. Paper towels in disabled toilet, kitchen & coffee shop kitchen are also around the £25 a box. Let alone cost of hand soap, toilet paper, water rates, electricity, cleaning spray, clothes, the list of items goes on. Which also includes staff wages . All things people take for granted when centre is used.
We bought armed chairs for the main hall to help those needing support to get up. Didnt take long for the first chair arm to get damaged & is more than one now. We've had to tape them. We had 3 broken chairs which got dumped (not the plastic ones but the nice one) & now we've another one broken in the corridor. A lot of time is chairs not being stacked properly. Matching the correct style for stacking helps a lot. Then they are not forced.
We've had the main hall floor heavy damaged & had to be repaired. Due to a party moving the stage & draging it back. Stage has now been reduces in size & fixed into place so can not be moved. Chairs get dragged & mark floor, same with tables, there are chair lifts to be used in both halls. Loads of things what seem a easy option to do by hall hires but cost us in the long run.
All we ask is some respect by users. Treat things as you would treat your own personal items. As for the children mostly teenagers but some just a bit younger we can not control them & their behaviour. What brings them to do destruction is what's going through their heads. Not at all nice in the damage & use of products that they want to destroy for fun. Caretake said it looked if they where pulling to get the toilet roll out of the unit. More damage if they'd broken it! More cost.
Private group hire, party hire is where we raise most of the money for centre. We do our up most best to provide the area with a nice friendly centre. Sadly its showing its age as we've now been open for 10yrs. Need to get it decorated but not a easy taste to do. Plus cost.
Volunteers always need to help with little jobs round the centre. Cleaning the areas that get missed due to time. Even volunteering for a spot of weeding round the front of centre plus the outside area of the rear hall would be most appreciated if anyone got some free time & would like to help out please come to the office mon - Fri 09.30 - 15.00. No later as school run has to be done. Or email us on [email protected] to arrange to come & see us.
I hope this info has made you more aware of the centre, cost & usage.
We appreciate all of you who use & support your centre for the Pin Green area.
