About us

2016

40+

Year of Establishment

Regular Users

Volunteers

Located in Newent, Gloucestershire,
the Newent Community Centre (NCC) is owned by
Glebe Chapel, a not-for-profit charity
that has been serving the community since 1962.

The History of NCC

The Community Centre was built in 1804 as a workhouse and remained as such until 1922. During this period, it was extended and repaired several times. For example, in 1833 the workhouse was further extended to provide ‘vagrant cells’ and in 1836 an advertisement was placed in the Gloucester Journal and Gloucestershire Chronicle for ‘tenders to alter and repair the Newent parish workhouse agreeably to the plans and specifications' made. The Poor Law Commissioners granted £300 for this work. In 1922 the County Council acquired the workhouse turning it into a school for 160 children in six classrooms. The older part of the building was later demolished and replaced with a new classroom block. In 1925 the premises became the Grammar School, but was re-organised in 1952 as a bi-lateral school (an early form of comprehensive school, combining grammar school pupils with a secondary modern stream consisting of children aged over 11 years from Picklenash Council School). It opened with a staff of 26 teachers and c.480 children, and by the early 1960s there were c.650 pupils. The school was moved to a new site on Watery Lane in 1965. After the school moved location, the building became a youth centre and continued to be the venue for youth groups when, c.1980, it became the Community Centre, purchased by Gloucestershire County Council. Little is known between that time and recent events, other than continuing as a venue for youth activities. In 2016, Glebe Chapel bought the premises from the Council with the desire to upgrade, modernise and improve the building, ensuring its use as a community facility for years to come.

Sources:

British History Online - Newent

Workhouses - Newent

Context

Going from workhouse, school, to now community centre, this historical part of Newent has been and will continue to be a place for people to be priority. Maintained by people, for the benefit of people, for the good of Newent.

Community

We want the centre to be a place where people feel a sense of belonging. Where people from Newent and surrounding areas can come together, benefit from healthy and engaging activities, and build community.

Connections

Through all of this we hope for the centre to be a safe space of welcome; where activities are engaging and supportive, and people are making new connections.