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Haversham Social & Community Centre
Premises and Bookings

The primary purpose of the Haversham Social and Community Centre Charity (Charity Number: 300276) is to provide and maintain facilities for the local community to meet and to socialise.  The premises we manage are operated under licence from Milton Keynes City Council (‘MKCC’) by the Trustees who rely on income from bookings alongside money raised through events and donations, to cover the running costs.  The premises are also where we run a number of events each year for the local community.  Whilst formally the building is called the Haversham Social and Community Centre, it is normally referred to locally as ‘The Social Centre’.

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​The Social Centre is based in premises adjacent to the rear of Haversham Village School, and was built with money raised by the local community at the time the school was being built in the mid 1960's.  It was transferred to the ownership of MKCC, is known by them as 'the annexe’ and prior to opening in May 1965, the charity was simultaneously granted a licence of use.  As part of that licence Haversham Village School has a right of use of the large hall during 'normal school hours'

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​THE PREMISES, BOOKING & CHARGES

The premises comprise two main areas that combine to provide a hall of approximately 150m2.  The 'entire hall' is made up from a small meeting hall (approximately 37m2) and the large hall (approximately 113m2).  Alongside the small hall is a well equipped kitchen, as well as three male and female toilets and one toilet for those with disabilities. In the evenings, at weekends and during the school holidays, the entire hall is available to hire, which includes the combined small and large halls as well as the kitchen.  The large hall is normally used by the school during the day in term time, but the small hall including kitchen is available for small groups and meetings during those times.  It is not possible to hire just the large hall.

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There is also a car park for just over 50 cars (including five disabled spaces) although this facility is shared during the school day with the school.  The premises meet with the criteria laid down by law for accessibility for the disabled.

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To make a booking or to make an enquiry please email bookings@havershamsocialcentre.org.uk.  We aim to respond within 48-hours, but please bear with us as we are all volunteers. If urgent please contact Richard Pryor on 07824 483337.  Click Hire Rates for hire charges. Please note payment is via BACS transfer only. 

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You can find directions to the premises via this link to Google maps

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Regular Users & Children's Parties:

We offer special rates for regular users (a minimum of 10 sessions per annum applies) as well as a four-hour discounted rate for children's parties for children up to 12 years.  We allow bouncy castles for free, but require the hirer to take out their own insurance and sign an indemnity form.

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​​GUIDES AND FORMS FOR HIRERS​

​​​The links below are to our information guides and forms:

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IF YOU ARE THINKING OF HIRIING:

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GUIDES FOR HIRERS:

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FORMS FOR HIRERS:

 

EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES AVAILABLE

Tables and Chairs

The facility has a number of tables and chairs available for use by hirers.  Some are stored inside the small hall and others in a storage garage just outside the hall.  We have:

  • 24 large 6ft by 2ft tables at dining table height

  • 10 medium 5ft by 2ft at dining table height

  • 9 small 4ft by 2ft tables at a lower height not suitable for dining but suitable for casual use

  • 120 of folding chairs

  • TBC of Children's chairs

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Modular Stage

A modular stage is available for hire, subject to availability. Its standard configuration is 2,250mm × 4,500mm (approximately 10m²) with a platform height of 500mm. The stage is normally supplied with two sets of stage steps, one positioned at each of the shorter sides. As the stage is modular, alternative configurations and step arrangements may be possible, subject to operational requirements and prior agreement with HSCC.

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The stage shall be assembled and dismantled only by authorised HSCC personnel. Hirers should discuss their stage requirements at the time of booking to allow sufficient time for assembly and dismantling.  

 

Stage Hire Charge: £50 per hire, including assembly and dismantling by HSCC.

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Kitchen
The HSCC also has a well equipped kitchen with:​

  • Range Cooker

  • Microwave

  • Fridge / Freezer

  • Tea Urn

  • 3 of Kettles

  • Catering Tea Pots

  • Large Jugs for soft drinks & water

  • Approximately 120 each of Tea Cups, Saucers, Tea Plates, Side Plates, Dinner Plates and Bowls

  • Various items including mugs and serving crockery in small quantities

  • Plastic cups and small bowls for Children's use

  • A quantity of cutlery plus various kitchen utensils, trays and other equipment (no sharp knives)

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Other Facilities

Hot water for the kitchen sink and toilet wash basins is provided by 'point-of-use' heaters that need to be switched on at the start of hire and switched off at end of hire.  Cleaning equipment is provided for hirers to clean the facility at the end of use.

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The hall has a First Aid kit in the entrance hallway, plus catering and burns kits in the kitchen. We would request that you let us know if you have used any of the first aid items after your hire so we can replenish them as needed.

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Full information and guidance regarding the above will be shared with each hirer during a pre-hire tour if they are not already familiar with the premises.​

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SOCIAL CENTRE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT​

​Whilst the Social Centre is well used and is a well provisioned facility, it does have some areas that we would like to improve.  We have four main items in our vision:

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Provision of Wi-Fi

Perhaps the easiest improvement to make, although given the proximity to the school there is some complexity as we will install a managed wi-fi system that will requires time-bound credentials to be provided to hirers to maintain safeguarding.  We have already selected the Broadband provider and the equipment needed so we would hope to complete installation by the end of August 2026

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Acoustic improvements

We expect anyone who has hired the hall is very aware of the slightly problematic acoustics in the Social Centre.  We have investigated the possibility of installing acoustic baffling to reduce the reverberation and improve the overall experience and would look to do this in the next year or so.

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Audio-Visual Equipment

Alongside improving the acoustics, we have also been investigating installing permanent audio-visual equipment that would include a large retractable screen, ceiling mounted projector and wall mounted speakers along with microphones.  This upgrade would not only help wit our events but could be used for things like "movie nights" and for talks and presentations.  Funding is required but we would help to complete this project in the next 18 months and will likely combine into a single project alongside the acoustic baffling.

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Improve Sustainability 

We are also exploring how we can make the Social Centre more sustainable and looking at solar panels and battery storage, as well as a better solution for the heating.  This is perhaps the most long term of our ambitions but something we intend to pursue in the next two to three years

 

Delivering these improvements will of course take both time and money (at least £50,000) and we plan to fund them through a combination of our own funds plus grants.  We would hope that as 2026 progresses we will be able to obtain some grant funding and make a start, and we plan to use the funds raised by the raffle to get broadband and Wi-Fi installed as soon as we can.

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