NEW BARNARDO’S COMMUNITY HUB IN TRIANGLE – “We want this to become a significant new family destination for the area”
A NEW neighbourhood hub will be launched by Barnardo’s in Crystal Palace this summer – and the children’s charity are calling on local people to get behind it.
Named ‘The Triangle’ the Coxwell Road site, which is just off Westow Street behind Sainsbury’s and the car parks, will feature a café with direct access from Westow Park and a Barnardo’s shop stocked with baby clothes, toys and more.
It will also have dedicated meeting and conference rooms that will be available for hire by the community, businesses and professional groups, with any charitable income raised going towards Barnardo’s work with the most vulnerable children and young people in the area, says the charity.
Manager Rajinder Nagra said: “We want to open our doors to the whole community and encourage everyone to enjoy our purpose-built facilities. “The huge under-fives soft play area in the middle of the centre reflects the fact that children and young people are at the heart of all we do.
“Mums, dads and carers will be able to relax, unwind and enjoy a proper coffee or browse the racks of the new Barnardo’s shop while their children play.
“We want this to become a significant new family destination for the area, and we want local people to help us make the centre the best it can be. “If you’d like to help us make a big impact, please get in touch.”
The Triangle will start opening to the public in August. Barnardo’s say a small entry charge for each child will be put towards the running costs of the centre, which will continue to support vulnerable children and young people, the spokesman added.
A Barnardo’s spokesman told News From Crystal Palace: “The existing Heshima centre will undergo significant refurbishment in the coming weeks, including the installation of a Barnardo’s shop and café.
“It will be the first time the centre has been opened up to the public in this way. “The soft play area already exists inside the building, where it fills the central area.
“The charity hopes to employ local people at the Coxwell Road site and is currently looking for a team manager, service administrator and play leader along with a team of volunteers who can help build it up into a thriving local resource.”
A team from The Triangle will be at the Crystal Palace Overground Festival in Westow Park on June 27 and 28.
The name Heshima is a Swahili term meaning ‘respect’ – chosen to reflect how the family centre tries to work with, and respect, everyone with whom it comes into contact. The neighbouring Victorian building – the former tuning house of the Royal Normal Academy for the Blind – is not currently in use despite having a ‘Barnardo’s construction academy’ sign on it, is not currently in use.
To talk about volunteering at The Triangle please email rajinder.nagra@barnardos.org.uk or call 020 8771 0907. Jobs will be posted from May 29 at http://www.barnardos.org.uk/work_with_us.
NEWS of the community hub has already prompted the following post by Fang on the Virtual Norwood website:
“But…but..we already have a community hub at 25 Church Road. “I know it looks like a Pentecostal Church but those nice people the KICC have told everyone it’s really a community hub. It even has a built in kiddies swiming pool on the stage.”
Further reading: BARNARDO’S CHILDREN’S CENTRE TO CLOSE – Heshima not affected 2nd July 2012
History: Royal Normal School for the Blind
NEWS FROM CRYSTAL PALACE 