VOLUNTEERS who can help keep Wiveliscombe Community Centre running smoothly are being urged to attend the management committee’s annual meeting later this month.

The centre hosts more than 500 events a year ranging from ballet to folk dance, day care lunches to local produce markets, yoga, pilates, meetings, craft groups, educational sessions, and private parties.

However, a spokesperson said: “A community centre does not run itself.

“We always need volunteers to hep with our regular events, such as the Friday coffee mornings and Saturday tabletop sales, people with handy DIY skills to make improvements where needed, gardeners for the planters and herb gardens, and people to welcome new hires and show them where things are and how the centre works.

“Without community support we would not be able to provide affordable hire charges, starting from as little as £11 per hour for regular community events.”

The centre, a registered charity, will also need a new secretary as the long-serving Des Hawkins is standing down.

The annual meeting will be held at 6.30 pm on January 29, and comes after a busy 2025 which saw a full redecoration and window replacement of the upper hall, and new railings.

The spokesperson said: “The centre is looking better than ever thanks to the hard work of our wonderful volunteers.”

The double glazed upstairs hall window was possible thanks to a grant from National Grid’s ‘community matters fund’, which enabled the replacement of an aging, cracked, and draughty single glazed unit.

The window will keep the hall warmer and save on energy costs this winter for the centre, which also has solar panels fitted on its roof.

Anybody interested in helping to keep the community centre going should attend the annual meeting or email [email protected].

The centre can also be supported with donations through a Localgiving online page.