FAQ

The building was donated to the community of Sennen in 1923, and has been run by various groups over the years.  The centre is entirely volunteer run.

In September 2023 the SCRC was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Registered Charity Number 1204904), and ownership of the building was transferred to this charity which enables us to protect the building for the community for generations to come.  

The charity currently has 5 trustees which comprises the management committee at the time of registration and the Sennen Parish Council (as a corporate group), we would welcome additional charity trustees and if you are interested please do get in touch. 

The unique position of the recreation centre as a Sennen community asset is our sea-front location.  This and our community gym provide unique offerings to the community - not already offered by the other halls in the area. Sennen is a coastal community and the location of the centre is perfect for a multitude of water-based community groups.

Groups that benefit the most from the location (or cannot operate without it) are our primary focus within the community.  The local community surf club & gig club have been using the centre for a number of years, though recent use of the building has been limited due to the state it is in.  The aim of this project is to open the centre up to wider community use and build on the excellent work that the existing groups already provide within the community.

The centre in its current state is not fit for purpose, it is suffering from severe damp in the walls and the roof and there is black mould growing within the fabric of the building. Additionally there is a steep bank to the rear of the building that is subsiding and requires stabilisation, as it is currently at risk of damaging the building structure even further.  Without intervention this building is at risk of being lost to the community.

To carry out the work to the retaining wall requires partial demolition of the existing building and with the condition of the rest of the building it would require a lot to bring it up to standards. Renovation would require at minimum a new roof, expense of installing insulation and the loss of footprint, upgraded heating and new windows and doors, in addition to rebuilding the demolished section.  The result being that refurbishment of the existing is not a financially viable option.

We worked with local community groups and users to draft the initial architect's brief. Following appointing an architect, feasibility studies were carried out and designs worked up ready to present to the community for feedback.  In September 2023 we held a series of local community consultation events, showcasing both one and two storey plans, and the feedback from these events influenced the final design.  

The design of the new centre has been created to fit in well with the surrounding buildings in the cove.  The inclusion of dark wood cladding is also in keeping to the original mission house that was on the site in the late 1800s and granite is a common building material in the cove. The balcony had to be included as the site is set further forwards than other buildings along the seafront and it would not have passed planning without the upper story being set back.  The frameless glass balustrade fits in well with the buildings either side and has less dominance on the street than other options we looked at for the balcony area.

The decision to go forward with the two storey version of the building plans was determined by several factors: 

• Cost: The QS created a rough budget for both 1 & 2 storey buildings and there was not much difference between the two, with the majority of the rebuild costs in the site preparation, the retaining wall and roof.

• Feedback: The two storey building had the most support from all of the feedback we received at the various community consultation events we attended. 

• Funding: We received advice from two different funding bodies that they would not fund a like for like replacement building - as it does not create any 'additionality' (additional usable space for the community). Without funding this rebuild project simply won't happen and the building will become derelict, therefore this was an important factor in our decision. 

• Space: We are doubling the community space available and creating distinct areas for wet & dry training. One of the issues the current building faces is the impact of the damp on the gym equipment and the space limitations on opening the centre up to more of the community. The rebuild will alleviate both of these problems. 

This is a common question as we do not have parking at the centre, nor do many of the homes in the Cove and we are aware that this is a contentious issue locally.

The current community groups who use the building generally use the 2 car parks within the Cove which provide plenty of parking year-round.  There is also a bus stop just 75 metres away.  

The primary aim of the charity is to provide the inhabitants of the parish of Sennen (& surrounding areas) with a venue for leisure & recreation, and as such we will be encouraging active transport to the centre such as walking / cycling (we will be implementing secure bike parking to accommodate this option).

We would love to be able to work with the local car parks to provide season parking for users of the centre, but as yet there has been no progress made on this.

Fees are kept as low and affordable as possible whilst allowing us to cover the costs involved in the use of the venue. We will release more details on costs & how to hire the centre as we get closer to opening the new centre.

Community groups who have regular use of the building currently pay a quarterly fee and one off hires pay a small fee per booking. We will work closely with community groups to try and ensure access is not prevented due to financial limitations.

We will also have a centre membership available so that individuals can make use of the space, including the gym & changing.

The centre will be hireable for groups and individuals, with priority given to local community groups that provide the most community benefit and who most benefit from our sea-front location.

There will be an individual centre membership which will provide access to the centre to use the community gym and changing spaces for personal use.

After the rebuild we will have changing rooms with toilet & shower facilities, a small community gym and a multi-function training area available for hire.  There will be tables and chairs available for use during training sessions & meetings.

Once we are closer to opening after the rebuild and ready to take bookings we will publish various ways you can book to use the venue and / or community gym.  

We have some community groups that have regularly booked timeslots but a full timetable will  be available online for viewing so you know when the centre is available.