Venture is here for you

The self-funded centre, which is largely run by volunteers, is already supporting a wealth of creative, active and community projects in the town - but, says its new manager Stinder Johl, it has room for much more.

Stinder joined the small team of eight staff last month following the end of a community programme he was working on in Coventry, which tackled crime, community safety, health issues, physical environment, unemployment and education.

He said: “I am brand new to Leamington, but what I can say is that the people I have spoken to during the past month have been incredibly helpful and friendly. The town has a very nice feel to it. It is full of creative people.”

Bath Place is no longer at Bath Place following a fire which burned down the centre two years ago, but Stinder insists the venture, which is now in Avenue Road, is still a very important element of Leamington.

He said: “Warwickshire College gave us this wonderful facility to occupy almost two years ago and we want to bring more of it back into use.

“Whenever I mention Bath Place, people all say, ‘that’s the place that burnt down’. There is a special feeling, an affinity to Bath Place Community Venture.

“It is still here and it is still thriving, just in a different way to what it was before the fire.”

While a new youth orchestra, the Spires, had its first rehearsal at the centre last week, a session on how to perform burlesque entertainment took over one of the rooms last Friday and there are plans for a theatrical production to take place around the building, during which the audience must follow performers.

Stinder said: “We are also in talks about bringing back the soup kitchen for homeless people. We want to bring more rooms into use and to get them used throughout the day.”

At the moment there are ten volunteers who run the venture’s Veggie Table cafe, from which, along with income from room hire, Bath Place gains its funding, as well as six on reception and a few others. But more are needed.

Stinder said: “We want more people to use us and realise there is a buzz here.”

Anyone interested in volunteering at Bath Place, hiring a room or finding out more can call Mr John on 338421 or email [email protected]