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About Us
The Centre was launched in 2001 as a UK Healthy
Living Centre. However, that funding came to an
end in 2004 and it now operates as a more generic
community centre with a healthy living ethos. At
present, the centre is a project of Exeter Community
Initiatives (ECI). This will change in April 2008
when the centre is due to become an independent
project. It is located on Sidwell Street, opposite
Somerfield and is right in the heart of Exeter.
The centre's mission statement:
'Build a stronger, healthier, more inclusive
community' in inner-city Exeter, 'by providing a wide
range of centre-based activities, learning opportunities
and support services, developed with local people
and other organisations' (anon, 2007).
It offers several regular services to the general
public such as inexpensive internet access five
days a week, and a café selling healthy food
open on Wednesday and Thursdays. Rooms at the centre
can be hired out and are currently used by various
community groups to run classes, activities or hold
meetings. Groups include organisations such as Magic
Carpet which provides creative opportunities for
various community groups, and the Hikmat Social
Contact Group which provides a space for Muslim
elders and other minority groups to meet. The St
Sidwell's Centre has four paid members of staff,
and approximately 25 regular volunteers.
Specific aims and objectives of the centre:
1. Health & Well-Being
Facilitate in partnership with other agencies, a variety of activities and services that help promote and improve the health and well-being of the local community and other centre users.
2. Community Development & Inclusion
Facilitate access to information and a variety of activities and groups that help promote social inclusion, and build the ability of the local community to participate.
3. I.C.T. & Internet Access
Improve access to information & communications technology and encourage the local community to participate in learning and educational opportunities.
4. Community Café
Provide café space and facilitate an independent organisation to operate a café with an emphasis on healthy eating and an affordable diverse menu.
5. Environment & Sustainability
Facilitate in partnership with other agencies a “green” space adjacent to the centre, to promote environmental sustainability, and endeavour to reduce our carbon footprint by minimising our energy use.
6. Staffing & Volunteering
Provide appropriate levels of staffing, management and support systems. To provide and facilitate a wide range of high quality volunteering and student placement opportunities, in order that the project’s aims and objectives are achievable.
7. Organisational Sustainability & Community Involvement
Ensure the sustainability of the organisation as a community centre and help promote local community participation and involvement.
How do we work?
The way we work, or our values, are as important to us as what we actually do. Indeed for social cohesion and community development project, the two are inextricably linked. We aim to work in the following ways:
• Recognising the uniqueness of each
individual whatever their background
• Celebrating the important contribution
individuals and groups can make to the community
• Promoting health in the broadest sense
• Working in partnership with others
to identify the most appropriate ways of responding
to need and challenging social exclusion
•Supporting the development of independent
projects and initiatives where possible
• Understanding the importance of the environment
and using resources wisely
• Promoting Equal Opportunities and diversity,
and challenging discrimination
• Providing a safe environment
• Demonstrating a professional approach including
the provision of quality services and good organisational
practice
• Recognising the importance of apposite
research, and the need for regular monitoring
and evaluation of our work
• Acknowledging the rich history of this
ancient Christian site.
Who do we work with to achieve our aims?
The centre works with a wide range of partners including local people, community groups and organisations, voluntary groups, statutory agencies, training providers, local businesses, such as the following;
Exeter Community Initiatives
Exeter City Council
Exeter Council for Voluntary Services
Exeter College
Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau
Devon County Council
Stepping Out Exeter
Devon Race Equality Council
Magna Housing
The Olive Tree Association
Family Education Development Trust
Devon & Cornwall Constabulary
Age Concern (Exeter)
Refugee Support Group (Devon)
Devon Wildlife Trust
Devon Community Foundation
Project Cosmic
Royal Albert Memorial Museum
The Training Partnership (Torquay)
Envision
Exeter City Football Club |
Action 4 Employment
EX4 Playgroup
Exeter Drugs (Alcohol) Project
Plymouth University
Devon Primary Care Trust
British Trust Conservation Volunteers
Workers Education Association (Exeter)
Exeter Diocese
Mother’s Union (Exeter)
Hikmat Social Contact Group
Children’s Centre (Exeter Central)
Wren Music Trust
Excellence Not Excuses
IVY Project
Exeter University
South West Healthy Living Alliance
Exeter Scrapstore
Big Issue (Exeter)
Magic Carpet
Energy Transform (Exeter)
Kick It Out Exeter City Supporters Trust
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Local partners in our Membership scheme:
Hartnell's Butchers, Sidwell Cycles, Stokes Greengrocers,
Healthy Pulses, Lindsay & Sons and Body 2000 Gym.
What are our priorities for future work?
By their very nature, objectives need to be specific,
but this can conflict with the need for an open-ended
and responsive approach that is required for real
community development to take place. This means
that although it is planned for the project to undertake
the broad areas of work set out below, the more
detailed aspects of work and numerical targets may
need to change in order to respond to local needs,
and people's experience of what works best locally.
The also include work facilitated and supported
by the project, but not necessarily directly managed
by us. In particular we are exploring a range of
options to enable our objective relating to the
Café to be achieved. As far as this plan
is concerned, any future options for the café
will need to be fully self financing due to staffing
structures.
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