ExteriorOn 18th April 1995, The BRIDGES Centre first opened it’s doors to the community of Edenbridge, three years after the charity was formed. It relies on it’s team of dedicated volunteers to run the café and organise fund raising activities as well as receiving money from private donors and community grants.

It has come a long way since it first opened, undergoing two makeovers to upgrade the facilities and create more space for customers. It is not in the business of competing with the other coffee shops but about provision of services and offering resources which, for one reason or another, are not being met elsewhere.

There are many regular activities taking place here on a weekly, fortnightly and monthly basis from advice/support sessions to music and crafts. There is full disabled access and a children’s play area to keep the little ones occupied while you enjoy a tea and chat with friends.

However, in order to ensure that this remains a bustling hub on the High Street, the centre is asking for your input as to what you would like to see and how the service can be improved, after all it was created with the aim to support and provide facilities for the local community.

The BRIDGES Centre Pop-in Café
Open 6 days a week, the cafe serves tea, coffee, cappuccino’s as well as delicious snacks and light lunches. All the food is freshly prepared and homemade and the café also has a Hygiene Rating of 5 awarded by Sevenoaks District Council. There is also free WiFi available.Hygiene-Rating

Café Opening hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
9.30am to 2.00pm
Wednesday & Saturday
9.30am to 12noon

A Space for Hire
Able to hold up to 50 people comfortably, the centre makes the ideal venue for all sorts of occasions – a meeting place for local groups and organisations, parties and gatherings and much more. You can hire the centre outside of “Pop-in” hours, just call the Centre Manager Mary Perrett on 01732 868 186 or by emailing thebridgescentre@btconnect.com

facebookBRIDGES on facebook
In order to connect to the younger members of the local community, BRIDGES now has a presence on social media site facebook. You can keep up to date with the numerous activities taking place as well as any organised fund raising events that are running by liking the page at www.facebook.com/TheBridgesCentre.

 

So, if you’ve not been to the centre at all or for ages, go along and check it out. The team of friendly staff look forward to welcoming you.

Registered Charity No. 1029169

 

Featured in: Issue 75 – March/April 2015