Southgate Church

Southgate Craft Group

About the Southgate Community Centre

Your Southgate Community Centre is situated alongside Hardwick Shopping Precinct, the Macebearer pub and Hardwick Primary School. It was built by the Borough Council in the late 70’s and leased to the Southgate Community Association to which an annual grant was given, but ownership of the building remained with the Borough.

In 2010, the Council decided to dispose of all of its community centres, and sought expressions of interest from local people who were prepared to take on the ownership and management on an entirely self-supporting basis. Responding to the challenge, the Community Association and Southgate Church formed a new charity, the Southgate Community Partnership (SCP), to take on the Centre. In October 2011, at a special ceremony the handover took place.

Local people are now totally responsible for the Centre and own the building. Well over £30000 has been invested to improve facilities over the past three years. Over 20 groups use the facilities on a regular basis with 300 + people enjoying activities each week. We welcome bookings for ad hoc events and social functions with hire rates being very competitive.

To find out anything about the Centre or any of the activities taking place, contact the Centre Manager – Jackie Tooley – on 01284 703705 or email office@southgatecommunity.org.uk.

View our trustees & staff below:

Centre Manager: Jackie Tooley

Centre Manager: Jackie Tooley

I’ve been the Manager of Southgate Community Centre since July 2011 and am also the Administrator for Southgate Church, which I’ve been part of for over 25 years. I really enjoy showing people round the Centre who have never stepped through our doors before, they are always surprised at just how big the Centre is and it’s great to show off the recent improvements that have been made. Each day is different at the Centre due to the wide variety of hirers who use our halls and rooms on a regular basis each week.

Chairman of trustees: Andy Abbott

Chairman of trustees: Andy Abbott

According to Andy’s wife Suzy his biggest fault is he just can’t say no! – Andy was “persuaded” to become a Trustee and was elected at the AGM in October 2013.

Following stalwart chairman Tim Shepherd’s move with wife Beryl to the East Suffolk coast Andy was unanimously elected new chairman in January 2016. Since then his whirlwind style of enthusiastic leadership has seen many significant improvements to the Community Centre. From new chairs to floors, partition doors, coffee bar and paint parties there has been three years of industrious refurbishment throughout the building making it a fabulous facility enjoyed by hundreds each week. Passionate about the centre Andy took on the additional role of Custodian in May and can now be found changing light bulbs, painting walls and cutting grass and hedges as well as maintaining the environment of the institution.

Andy is also Vice-Chairman of Governors at Hardwick Primary School and former Head of Photos for Archant Suffolk newspaper group who he worked for around 35 years after starting his career with the Bury Free Press. Andy and Suzy live with sons Billy and Archie “less than a minute’s walk” from the Community Centre.

Vice Chairman and Secretary: Bob Jones

Vice Chairman and Secretary: Bob Jones

Vice-chair and one of the founding trustees – since 2011. Representing Southgate Church, I took the lead in establishing the Southgate Community Partnership. A resident of the area for the past 30+ years, I had senior roles at both West Suffolk Hospital and St Nicholas Hospice, I am very committed to the Centre being a hub for all local people.

Cllr Patrick Chung

Trustee: Patrick Chung

I was nominated a Trustee as a Borough Council representative in 2011 and am proud to have been involved with the Southgate Community Centre since then. I have been a local resident for over forty years, well known for being a restaurant owner some thirty plus years and proud to have been Mayor and Deputy Mayor of St Edmundsbury. In my role as councillor for West Suffolk Council and Bury St Edmunds Town Council I enjoy assisting the community with improving the area with fundraising and using my locality funds for the projects that improve the lives of the people. I will continue to serve and do my best for the local Southgate Community Centre and surrounding area.

Trustee: Terry Ball

Trustee: Terry Ball

I have been a Trustee since the SCP was formed and am a Trustee elected by the Church and was asked to do so to assist with legal matters regarding the transfer of property. Since becoming a Trustee I have been involved in obtaining Grant funding for various improvements to the Centre and overseeing these projects. In my view the Centre is one of the best presented and managed in the area and we will continue to improve in any way possible.

Trustee: Bob Heavisides

Trustee: Bob Heavisides

A co-opted Trustee since 2011 and resident of the area since 1984. I am the Chair of Governors at Hardwick Primary School and within that role, continue to support the School’s close links to the Community Centre and in my role as a co-opted Trustee endeavour to keep the centre actively participating in the life of the community it is set within.

Trustee: David Dutton

I represent Southgate Church as a Trustee on the Southgate Community Partnership. I joined the Partnership in September 2018.

I enjoy helping out at the Centre with the monthly Bingo and the Fun Day in May each year.

The Centre has under gone an update over recent years since the Partnership took it over from the local Council which is very much appreciated by the many Hirers.

Trustee: Dave Rogers

I moved to Bury in 2002 from Wraysbury, a village near Windsor having taken early retirement following the privatisation of British Gas where I was the Display Manager for one of the Regions.

In 2006 my wife died from a kidney condition, some 6 years ago I remarried and inherited three sons and four grandchildren one of which lives with myself and wife Chris. We joined Southgate Church in 2015 and help with Coffee Stop on a Monday morning in the Church Centre. I help with any DIY jobs needed and also helped with the redesign of the new kitchen in the Church Centre.

In 2018 I became a Trustee representing Southgate Church.