Our vision is to transform Underhill Park into a community hub for the people of Mumbles and surrounding area. We aim to do this by improving the grounds, providing a social and recreational space with modern facilities, thus maximising the potential usage of the park and create a much needed focal point for the community. By improving facilities in this central village location and enhancing the range of users from the community, it will ensure that this green area is safeguarded from other development in the future. There is considerable evidence that a successful community centre positively influences;
• Health and well being
• Economic Development and Tourism
• Educational development, skills and attainment
• Social and Community Cohesion
• Individual exclusion and access to services
BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY
The fundamental aim is to increase the number of people actively participating in active recreational activities, with the beneficial effect this will have on the health and wellbeing of the local population. A new modern building which through its design will provide the opportunity to develop the potential of Underhill Park to act as the community hub to deliver an inclusive and wider range of sports, recreational and social activities. We believe a community centre with provision of social, recreational and sporting activities in Mumbles and the surrounding area will help break down barriers and bring people together for a positive purpose. This project presents the opportunity for ordinary local people to contribute to the development of local services in the area. Mumbles has in the past been the focus for speculative commercial developments which has created much local dissent and opposition. It is believed that this project has the potential to bring a wide range of people together for the benefit of the whole community. It is hoped that all of the local population of Mumbles, Newton and West Cross,13,940 people( 2001 census) will benefit either directly or indirectly from our project. There is a wider interest in the community to provide facilities so as to increase participation for sections such as girls, women and people with disabilities not currently available. The development will give the Council's Play service the opportunity to provide or support holiday activities in the park. Local schools will be able to use the facilities for their sporting recreational and fundraising events as well as using it as a base for outdoor education studies. There is a tremendous potential for School and summer holiday programmes and events to be held in the Park which could also enhance Mumbles attractiveness for visitors. IN SUMMARY
It is believed that the major benefit of the project will be the new building's ability to provide a focal point for the social interaction of the range of people involved in the activities delivered by the provision of this new venture. The community will at last have a facility where that they can meet and enjoy the wider opportunities that this project will provide. A facility, which can be used for activities both indoor and outdoor but all on the same central site.
