The Centre of the Community
The Clifton Community Centre in Central St Leonards recently welcomed supporters, funders, and partners to a celebration event to mark the end of a year-long project to make the building more sustainable and accessible.
Clifton Centre supporters and staff at the 20 September celebration event
Funds were raised through a crowdfunder and donations from Biffa Award, the Isabel Blackman Foundation, East Sussex County Council, Hastings Round Table and many other supporters, including people who hire rooms at the centre. This enabled them to replace the boiler, roofing and flooring as well as tackle the damp and install a state-of-the-art new lift.
Guests at the event included Lord Lieutenant Andrew Blackman and Mayor Judy Rogers, Chair of East Sussex County Council, as well as a range of guests and supporters from the community. The evening included music from Yair Katz and a ‘thank you’ speech by Chair of the Trustees, Peter Pragnell.
The Clifton Centre has a fascinating history. It was originally a community pub – The Clifton Tavern – dating from 1870. It was always a central hub for the local community, and before WWI it had its own ‘Benefits Society’, organising smoking concerts (men only) and musical programmes. It later became a popular watering hole for members of the St Leonards Allotment Association – in 1915, the landlord applied (unsuccessfully) for a later closing time of 10.30pm so that members could enjoy a late-evening pint after heavy digging. Sadly, the pub closed its doors in 1998, but the building was soon transformed into Southwater Community Centre in the early 2000s, changing its name to The Clifton Centre in 2022 to mark the start of its recent refurbishment.
What next? Manager Cath Tajima-Powell says that the café/sitting room is in need of a revamp. They are thinking of decorating it in pink and green to match the amazing mural on the outside of the building.
Meanwhile, the centre provides a home for numerous groups and individuals who are trying to improve the lives of local people. It currently has four rooms that can be hired by the hour (from as little as £6 per hour), a sitting room/café, a studio, meeting room and hall. They also have four offices rented out to creative businesses, a therapist and an access consultancy.
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