Mayfair Community Centre

Description

Church Stretton in Shropshire is a small market town with a population of approximately 4500 

people. However, both the town and the Centre serve an area of some 200 square miles of 

scattered hamlets and villages. South Shropshire is one of the most sparsely populated 

counties in the country.


Mayfair Community Centre in Church Stretton is an open access Community Centre run by the 

Strettons Mayfair Trust, a charitable trust limited by guarantee. The Trust was set up in 1996 in 

order to realise the Centre. The Centre was created in response to identified local needs.


The building in which the Centre is housed is owned by South Shropshire Housing Association. 

On the same site are ten sheltered housing units. The Strettons Mayfair Trust has responsibility 

to act as warden to the tenants in these units.


The Community Centre was opened in 1997 to provide:


  • A day-care unit, including a bathing and laundry service

  • Public café – open to all

  • Complementary therapies (ranging from Acupuncture, Hairdressing, Reiki to massage)

  • Care information

  • Room hire


By 1999, over 700 people a week were using the facilities. Not only was the Centre short of 

space but, the Trust identified unmet needs within the community that fell within their remit to 

deliver, if the funds could be found. In 1999 a first stage application was submitted to the New 

Opportunities Fund to expand into a Healthy Living Centre. The Trust was invited into a second 

stage in 2000 and in March 2001 a grant was awarded. In 2002 the Centre activities relocated 

to four sites, whilst an additional storey was added to the building. The Centre is now the first 

Healthy Living Centre in Shropshire. The expanded services provides:

  • A larger arts and crafts room

  • An IT suite for formal and informal learning for people of all ages

  • A therapy suite where a large range of Complementary Therapies are available

  • A crèche

  • Daycare Centre for people with learning difficulties

  • An independent living project called ‘Maysi’ (Mayfair Supporting Independence); this project provides advice for people falling outside of Social Services eligibility criteria. Housing Support advice is also available.

  • ‘Ring and Ride’ transport

  • A befriending and support service called Coco

  • A ‘Walking for Health’ scheme

  • Exercise and Dance classes

  • More rooms available for hire

  • A shop selling second hand books/bric a brac


The Centre has a staff team of 28 (mainly part-time) who are assisted by well over 300 

volunteers. The volunteers are a vital part of the Centre. Not only do they help provide services 

but, they also create the atmosphere that has given rise to the ‘Mayfair family’.


The Centre has a fundraising team. Their work is vital to the sustainability of Mayfair and in 

addition, they provide many enjoyable social activities.


In 2013 over 1200 people a week used the facilities. The Centre is run by the Community for 

the Community and is open to all.

In 2014 we received national recognition for our work, being one of 10 national winners of the GSK IMPACT Award for Health.

 In 2015 took over Shropshire Councils Day Opportunities Service for Adults with Learning Disabilities. We also signed the lease on the next door building having raised £700,000 to refurbish it into a Health and Wellbeing Centre, aiming to further integrated health care and community services.

 Building work started in January 2016. Thanks to the support of the local community who pledged over £138,000 to the project. On September the 19th 2016 the Health and Wellbeing Centre opened offering a mixture of NHS clinics, advice and support from care agencies and voluntary sector groups. At the heart is a community area, with volunteer hosts, offering a coffee shop and support to access information on how to keep well and where to get support.