The mission statement of the Gregson Arts and Community Centre in Lancashire encompasses what a community centre is, or should be all about:
“To promote and encourage discussion and participation in arts and community events, issues, activities and groups in order to improve the quality of life for the whole community. To excite, engage, stimulate and fulfil.”
Community centres are places, usually funded and run by local government, which act as a focal point for various communities in the area. They are a place meet and carry out activities which relate to a community’s interest or identity.
Communities are not necessarily based only on ethnic or religious grounds. Locality is central to the concept of community, and community centres provide a meeting place for interest based clubs and societies in the area, including sports and the arts. Community centres are often venues for public meetings about issues of importance to a community, adult or special education classes and offices for community projects.
Centres can also provide an opportunity for citizens to become involved in the running of the centre and to learn valuable management skills. To be involved in community activities at a centre is to learn about the democratic process and the duties and responsibilities that must be accepted long with the rights conferred.
Actually, there are no special requirements for building a community centre – any place will do. It is the community itself which creates the character of the centre, and provides the warmth to make the centre a welcoming place.
“To promote and encourage discussion and participation in arts and community events, issues, activities and groups in order to improve the quality of life for the whole community. To excite, engage, stimulate and fulfil.”
Community centres are places, usually funded and run by local government, which act as a focal point for various communities in the area. They are a place meet and carry out activities which relate to a community’s interest or identity.
Communities are not necessarily based only on ethnic or religious grounds. Locality is central to the concept of community, and community centres provide a meeting place for interest based clubs and societies in the area, including sports and the arts. Community centres are often venues for public meetings about issues of importance to a community, adult or special education classes and offices for community projects.
Centres can also provide an opportunity for citizens to become involved in the running of the centre and to learn valuable management skills. To be involved in community activities at a centre is to learn about the democratic process and the duties and responsibilities that must be accepted long with the rights conferred.
Actually, there are no special requirements for building a community centre – any place will do. It is the community itself which creates the character of the centre, and provides the warmth to make the centre a welcoming place.