Welcome to
Walsworth Community Centre
Due to damage from the recent flooding in the Walsworth area, our Main Hall is currently closed for repairs. We are expecting to fully re-open after the Easter break.
We are not currently taking on any new hirings.
If you are interested in hiring the Centre in the future, please contact us from Monday 21st April onwards. We’re looking forward to the re-opening and having the Community Centre active again in Walsworth!
About
The Centre is administered by the volunteers of Walsworth Community Association, registered charity number 302485. We are a small group dedicated to serving the community, and we rely on the support of the community.
Walsworth Flood 2024
The Walsworth Flood: Timeline of Events at WCC
In the week beginning 23rd September 2024, Walsworth faced a severe flood event due to heavy rains over a short period, causing the River Purwell to overflow its banks. The sudden surge overwhelmed local drains, which were unable to handle the sheer volume of water, leading to backflow and significant street flooding.
Forty-five properties were impacted, leaving residents facing devastating losses, with homes uninhabitable for months.
Walsworth Community Centre also suffered damage despite sandbag barriers, with floodwater entering through doors, drains, and even the brickwork at six different points. The Main Hall endured major damage to the flooring, while other areas sustained minor damage to skirting boards, bookshelves, and doors.
The Main Hall is closed for repairs until approximately the end of February 2025.
A limited schedule for certain classes is continuing in the Meeting Room. Those interested are encouraged to contact class organisers directly to confirm current schedules. At this time, we do not accept new regluar or one-off bookings until the Centre’s full reopening, with the exact date yet to be determined.
This is our timeline of events at Walsworth Community Centre:
Monday, 22nd September 2024 - first flooding
- Water breached the Main Entrance door, resulting in minor flooding in the Lobby area.
- Due to a road closure near the train station, traffic was rerouted via Woolgrove Road.
- Increased traffic flow past the Community Centre caused waves to hit the main entrance doors, worsening the water ingress until emergency services started pumping.
Tuesday, 23rd September 2024 - reopening
- Emergency services successfully pumped the floodwater, Woogrove Road outside WCC was cleared.
- We reopened in time for the evening class and were able to run as scheduled for the next few days.
Friday 27th September 2024 - 2nd flooding
- Heavy rains overnight, adding to flood risks already present in the area.
- The barriers were already breached and the Lobby flooded by the time the available volunteers arrived from 7am to battle the rising water with buckets, dustpans and towels, working diligently until 1:30pm to minimise damage. Additional sandbags were purchased and put in place
- Flood levels kept rising until around 9.30-10am, reaching more doors and breaching them. Floodwater also backed up through the toilets.
- Flood Impact: The Lobby, Main Hall, its kitchen, storage rooms and toilet areas were submerged up to about an inch high, with floodwaters outside reaching approximately 15 cm at the front of the building.
- Woolgrove Road was closed this time, preventing further wave impact from diverted traffic.
- Emergency Response:
- Emergency services pumped millions of litres of water from the flooded area and distributed additional sandbags.
Saturday, 28th September 2024 & Sunday, 29th September 2024
Roads were cleared and there was some relief from the rainy weather with a sunny, calm weekend. However, more rain was forecast to start late on Sunday, emergency services prepared more sandbags for the locals to help themselves to. More barriers were created at WCC and stayed in place for the coming week. Luckily, there was no more flooding for the time being.
Rugs and Doormats have been professionally cleaned and treated immediately following the flooding. We would like to thank Vista Carpet Cleaning for their professional and quick help with this.
A dehumidifier has been operational for two weeks to dry out the Lobby.
October 2024
Next to minor damage to skirting boards, doors, seals etc, we have identified significant damage to the Main Hall parquet floor after the second flood, with warping reaching up to almost a foot high, cracking and bricks popping out, making it unsalvageable.
November 2024
Removal of the Main Hall flooring began on October 30th and has now been completed. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Mr. Osborne of Osborne Woodcare Ltd for his excellent work and expertise during this process.
Affected areas continue to dry out as part of the recovery process.
December 2024
7.12. - A survey was conducted in early November, and we are currently awaiting the report, lab results, and feedback from our insurance provider. Progress on this front unfortunately has been slower than anticipated.
In the meantime, we have proactively met with several companies and contractors to gather quotes for potential repairs and works. This will allow us to move forward swiftly once we receive confirmation from the insurance.
Additionally, we are exploring options for future flood-proofing measures for the premises. Given the circumstances, we recognise that this may not be an isolated event and are taking steps to mitigate similar risks in the future.
20.12. - We have received the green light to proceed with works in the kitchen and storage room flooring. The removal of units and appliances in both areas, as well as the uplifting and disposal of the old flooring, has now been completed.
A huge thank you to JST Home Improvements for their fantastic work.
Now that the old flooring has been removed, these areas can continue to dry out more effectively in preparation for the installation of new flooring in the new year.
January 2025
We are making progress with booking in dates for outstanding works to take place during February.
February 2025
Most of the outstanding major works are taking place this month - we are a big step closer to reopening!
4.2. - New flooring has been fitted in the Main Hall kitchen, and storage room. Big thanks to Roysia Flooring LTD for their work!
10.2. - The kitchen units and appliances are back in place, and some of the finishing touches have been completed, including touching up the storage room walls, applying new sealant around the Lobby edges, and installing a new heavy-duty storage shelf.
Ongoing - Work on the main hall flooring is currently underway. This is a major project requiring several preparation sessions spread over multiple days before the new flooring can be installed.
WCC was mentioned in BBC online articles on 2nd October and 15th November
Our Chair of Trustees gave a live interview on BBC Four Counties Radio on 3rd October
Hall Hire
Booking Rates
| Monday to Thursday up to 10pm: | £12 per hour |
| Friday up to 8pm: | £12 per hour |
| Friday 8pm to 10pm: | £24 per hour |
| Saturday, Sunday & Bank Holidays up to 7pm: | £18 per hour |
| Saturday, Sunday & Bank Holidays between 7 - 10pm: | £30 per hour |
Meeting Room
| Monday – Friday, up to 10pm: | £12 per hour |
| Saturday, Sunday & Bank Holidays up to 10pm: | £18 per hour |
Minimum hire time:
Regular hirings: 1 hour. A minimum of 15 minutes either side of the actual activity is required
Party/one-off hirings: 3 hours
Latest bookings: We do not normally accept bookings later than 10pm
Notice of bookings: We need 3 weeks notice to fulfil a booking
Damage/Overrunning/Excessive cleaning Deposit:
- Monday to Thursday, Sunday: £60;
- Friday and Saturday, up to 7pm: £60; bookings later than 7pm: £250
One-off hirers have different conditions, please apply for details to Walsworth Community Association. A £10.- admin fee applies for all cancellations of one-off hirings.
To check availability, click here
Other information
Baby-changing facilities (Main Hall only)
Bouncy castles may be used in the Main Hall, up to a maximum of 3m high and 4m wide (Main Hall only)
Chairs and tables available, included in hall hire.
Full kitchen use included in hall hire.
If alcohol is to be sold, a Temporary Event Notice is required.
All hirings must take account of set-up and clear-away within their booked time.
Hall Availability
Contact
- 88 Woolgrove Road, Hitchin SG4 0AU, UK
Following the recent flooding in Walsworth, our Main Hall is currently closed for repairs. We are not currently taking on any new hirings. If you are interested in hiring the Centre in the future, please contact us from Monday 21st April onwards.
Classes & Courses
Due to the closure of the Main Hall following the recent flooding, we are currently operating a reduced timetable for classes and courses. All sessions are now being held in the Meeting Room. Please contact the individual organisers to confirm whether their sessions are still running, as the information below reflects our usual times and location only. Thank you for your understanding.
Public Defibrillator
Why do we need Public Access defibrillators in our community?
Out of Hospital Sudden Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) claims around 60,000 to 80,000 people annually across the UK with survival rates of around 5%-10% outside a Hospital setting.
If a person's heart stops or goes into some abnormal heart rhythm the only way to to get the heart back into normal electrical activity is to pass an electrical charge through the heart with a automated external defibrillator (AED).
The first three to four minutes are the most important for a collapsed person and, if Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is used and a Defibrillator is available, the chance of survival improves significantly.
How does an AED Site work ?
- In the event of a person collapsing, you need to call 999 for an ambulance.
- The Ambulance Service will ask you a series of questions to establish what is happening. They know where the AEDs are sited and give you the code to access the cabinet .
- The defibrillator will tell you what to do so listen carefully.
- The Ambulance will be on its way and if you keep your phone on loud speaker, Ambulance control will help and support you .
In the event you use this AED , we ask you to return it to the cabinet and call the number written on the red case.
The defibrillator at Walsworth Community Center was installed in February 2022 and is situated on the front right hand side of the building's outside wall. It was funded by HItchin AED, Hitchin Town Youth FC, Activate Fitness and Walsworth Community Centre.
This site was chosen as the WCC is used by a range of different adult groups, Football is regularly played opposite the Centre and nearby there is a significantly large residential area.
You don’t need training to use this equipment but if you are interested, we are planning to put on some free awareness sessions in the Autumn 2022
WCA
Walsworth Community Association
Registered Charity no 302485
The Walsworth Community Association is a registered charity dedicated to managing and operating Walsworth Community Centre. As the driving force behind the Community Centre, the association plays a crucial role in providing a space for various activities and services that benefit the local residents. The association's efforts are pivotal in maintaining the community centre as a hub for social, recreational, and educational activities, ensuring it meets the needs of the Walsworth community.
The Association's dedicated team of volunteers works tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that our Centre remains a welcoming space for everyone in our community.
Our Team
Elizabeth Townsend - Secretary
Heike Joachimi - Treasurer
Simon Yarwood - Trustee
Bernard Lovewell - Trustee
& the committee members
Our Mission
Our charity organisation is driven by a simple yet profound mission: to create a space where everyone feels welcome, supported, and inspired. Whether it’s through educational programmes, social events, or simply providing a safe place to gather, our volunteers are committed to making a positive impact.
Walsworth Community Centre is bookable for groups, parties and more. Various regular classes and courses are running every week.
Join Us
We are always looking for more passionate individuals to join our team. If you have a few hours to spare and a desire to give back to your community, we would love to hear from you. Together, we can continue to build a stronger, more connected community.
Thank you for your continued support.
WCA Meetings
Our next committee meeting is on
Tuesday 4th February 2025, 7.45pm
