Month: August 2025

Posted on

Cooking Up is joining us at Greenwood Community Centre

We’re thrilled to welcome Cooking Up to Greenwood Community Centre from Thursday 4 September 2025, running every Thursday, 10.00am–1.00pm in the Rowan Hall.

Cooking Up is a local charity that helps people build confidence in the kitchen, learn budget-friendly recipes, and enjoy cooking together as a community. Their friendly, hands-on sessions focus on tasty, healthy meals you can recreate at home—perfect for anyone who wants to cook more, spend less, and eat well.

What to expect

  • Welcoming, small-group classes led by experienced facilitators and supported by volunteers.
  • Practical, step-by-step cooking using affordable ingredients and simple equipment—ideal for beginners and improvers alike.
  • Healthy, flavourful recipes that can be adapted for different dietary needs.
  • Take your meal home at the end of each session and build your own recipe repertoire week by week.

Who it’s for

Cooking Up is perfect for anyone who wants to gain confidence in the kitchen, cook tasty meals on a budget, and enjoy learning in a supportive, social setting.
Each course runs for five weeks, with a 90-minute hands-on session every Thursday morning. You’ll cook a delicious meal using simple, affordable ingredients (never costing more than £1.50 per person) and take home what you’ve made. Our friendly volunteers are there to guide you step by step, making it ideal whether you’re completely new to cooking or just looking for fresh inspiration.
Best of all, the course is completely free to join—all you need to bring is your enthusiasm.
One recent participant summed it up perfectly:

“I have enjoyed every minute of each week. Felt very inspired. The course was very well presented and all volunteers AMAZING. Will be doing lots more cooking – Thank you.”

When & Where

Every Thursday, 10.00am–1.00pm, starting 4 September 2025

Greenwood Community Centre, 1a School Road, Hampton Hill, TW12 1QL

Book to Cook

Fancy lending a hand?

If you’re a confident home cook and love helping others, Cooking Up is always happy to hear from potential volunteers. It’s a practical, rewarding way to support your neighbours and build community.

We can’t wait to see you on Thursdays! Come along, learn new skills, meet new people, and head home with a delicious dish you’ve cooked yourself.

Posted on

Lifting the lid on toilets….

Greenwood, Hampton Hill’s vibrant community centre, is open to the public during office hours – and our toilets are available for anyone to use, including our fully accessible loo. As part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Community Toilet Scheme, we’re proud to help make it easier for everyone to find a clean, safe place to stop. And, as a Sit-Stop location too, you’re very welcome to pop in, take a (wee) rest, or contact us and book a Centre Tour while you’re here. See more Sit-Stop places in Richmond here.

World Toilet Day – 19 November

Access to a toilet is a vital human right. And World Toilet Day, celebrated on 19th November each year, is about tackling the global toilet crisis, highlight the desperate needs of 3.5 billion people still living without safely managed sanitation. For 2025, the theme is ‘Sanitation in a changing world’, reminding us that no matter what the future holds, we’ll always need the toilet. In the UK, we have the Victorians to thank for meeting the need for more public conveniences in the UK, enabling many more ladies to venture further afield. And now with more fully accessible public toilets, through the National Key Scheme, wheelchair users and people with limited mobility or additional needs can now go with more convenience.

Why is the RADAR key so big?

Although the charity RADAR (Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation) no longer exists, there is a big chunky key that still bears its name. At 4in long, the RADAR key has been designed for easier use, particularly for people with limited dexterity. As part of the National Key Scheme, the RADAR key opens wheelchair accessible public toilets in shopping centres, pubs, cafés, department stores, bus and train stations and other locations in the UK. RADAR is now Disability Rights UK, a national organisation of and for disabled people, and you can purchase one RADAR key for the princely sum of £5 online: https://shop.disabilityrightsuk.org/products/radar-key

Changing Places Toilets

For people who need more than just your bog-standard privy, such as children or adults with additional needs, there are now over 2,000 Changing Places Toilets (CPTs) in the UK. And apparently, over a 1/4 million people in the UK need a CPT which also has a height adjustable changing bench, a peninsular toilet and a ceiling hoist.
To find a Changing Places toilet near you, pay a visit to their website: www.changing-places.org

Gotta go……

Author: Chris Lofthouse (Operations Manager, H&HHVC)

Posted on

Come Dance with Us! Greenwood Community Centre Joins “Your Community Centre Week” with a Celebration of Dance

From 22–28 September 2025, community spirit takes centre stage as Your Community Centre Week returns, and this year, it’s all about moving to the rhythm of life with the uplifting theme: “Come Dance With Us!”

Here at Greenwood Community Centre, we’re embracing the joy, connection, and sheer fun that dancing brings, with a whole week of FREE, inclusive, and energising dance events for all ages and abilities. So, whether you’re a seasoned dancer or haven’t moved to music in years, there’s something for you. Why not give it a whirl?

Greenwood’s Dance Week Line-up

  • Monday 22 September – Seated Disco (12:30 – 13:30). Get your groove on, even from a chair! Aimed at adults aged 60+, this joyful session mixes upbeat pop and musical classics with gentle movement. Boost your mood, sharpen your mind, and dance like nobody’s watching! Book: admin@laurenhaithdance.com
  • Tuesday 23 September – Parent & Me (13:00 – 14:00). A special dance experience for parents, carers, and grandparents with little ones aged 18 months to 4 years. Enjoy simple steps, creative play, and a bit of stretch, all wrapped in warmth and laughter. Book: admin@laurenhaithdance.com
  • Tuesday 23 September – Dance Vitality (14:30 – 15:30). For adults of all ages and abilities, this upbeat session focuses on gentle, vitality-boosting moves that’ll leave you energised and smiling. Book: admin@laurenhaithdance.com
  • Wednesday 24 September – Walking Tango (13:30 – 15:00). Designed for our Registered Neighbours at Hampton & Hampton Hill Voluntary Care, but guests are welcome! A gentle, sociable introduction to tango that’ll put a spring in your step and a smile on your face. Book: enquiries@greenwoodcommunity.org.uk
  • Thursday 25 September – Latin Flavour Zumba (15:30 – 16:15). Salsa, Merengue, Flamenco, Belly Dance and more—all blended into an easy-to-follow, high-energy class suitable for all abilities. Expect laughter, music, and new friendships. Book: gallantdriving@hotmail.co.uk

Why Join a Community Centre?

Your local community centre is more than a building, it’s a hub of warmth, friendship, and opportunity. When you step through our doors, you’re not just attending an event, you’re joining a neighbourhood that cares.

Whether you want to meet new people, get support, try something new, or give something back, Greenwood Community Centre is your place to belong.

Why Dance?

Good for the mind – dancing can help with memory, focus, and stress relief

  • Great for the body – it improves balance, coordination, and cardiovascular health
  • Powerful for connection – dancing brings people together and boosts happiness
  • And it’s just plain fun!

Bonus: Don’t Miss the Vintage Bus Tours!

Fancy combining nostalgia with cream tea? As part of the week, hop aboard a Vintage Bus Tour (23rd & 26th September) and visit other community centres in the borough, including cream tea stops at Mortlake Hall and Linden Hall. See the full timetable at yourcommunitycentres.org .oin us and rediscover the magic of communit— with rhythm, laughter, and dance!

Let’s get Hampton Hill moving. Come dance with us!

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram