Six years after its high profile launch, the Dracaena Centre in Falmouth is proving more popular than ever, attracting new groups and activities which cater for all ages, from very young children right through to pensioners.
Fifty organisations and clubs are now based in the building which combine to provide a real community centre, offering something for everyone. The newest addition will be the Falmouth Toy Library when it relocates from the children’s centre on Park Terrace next month.
The community initiative will be open from 9.30am until 11.30am on Mondays and from 12.30pm until 2.30pm on Fridays, when it will tie in nicely with another of the centre’s new offerings – Captain’s Toddler Group which hosts parent and toddler play and stay sessions.
“The centre’s going to have a lovely family feel about it on Fridays now,” said centre manager, Richard May. “A parent and toddler group was the one thing that was missing here. We have been very good at building everything else up, but I knew there was this missing link.”
At the other end of the spectrum, the centre now also provides short mat bowls sessions and keep fit and mobility classes aimed at the “more mature” members of the community.
Other activities provided at the centre include tae kwon do, five-a-side football, zumba, yoga, boxing training, art and dance, Bongo Babes, circus skills, basketball, pilates, table tennis and badminton.
There are also money, housing and training advice sessions, a dementia support group, the Be Me service for people with emotional or psychological difficulties along with the Palm Community Cafe.
“I cannot believe we have been here for six-and-a-half years,” said Richard. “We are chugging along and are slowly growing still. There are oodles of things going on and we have more activities than ever before. I want people to recognise that we are still here.
“While we have lots of people here doing their thing with us and for us, there is still availability for people to come and use the space. We have space available for small businesses, for clubs, for meetings and the conferences we have held here have always been successful.
“We want people to come and see us, to talk to us because if we are not doing what they want, there is probably a way of finding a way to do it.”
When the centre opened, Richard was the only member of staff. Now, he is supported by 11 full, part-time or sessional workers and is further backed up by a team of 15 volunteers.
For further information about the centre, or to inquire about starting a new activity or about volunteering, call them on 01326 319414, email admin@dracaenacentre.org, go to www.facebook.com/dracaenacentre or just call in.
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