Date added: 2011-06-28 11:44:01

New Druitt Hall update July 2011

£18,500 has been raised through Donations and Buy-a-Brick contributions specifically for this project and are fully reserved. CCP, as custodian and on behalf of the people of Christchurch, has ring-fenced these funds so they will not be used for any other purpose and are available as ‘seed capital’ when the opportunity for building becomes a reality The Planning approval achieved 3 years ago has been renewed and all detailed costing done for the project to be restarted at the right time. The Council legal team are negotiating and when ownership of the land becomes available the Project will be revitalised. In the meantime CCP will continue to fund-raise and the building fund will grow so that we are in a better position to proceed when that time comes. The original concept was for a multi-purpose intergenerational building that would cost c£1m and in light of the current economic circumstances this may not be achievable in the very near future. However, the need for a replacement hall in the centre of Christchurch is stronger than ever and we remain keen to make a start.

Date added: 2010-11-24 15:34:50

Upcoming Community Fund Raising Events

The following is the programme of events planned by the New Druitt Community Fund Raising group for 2010. 27 November – Magical Moments Look out for the Magical Moments Marquee in Saxon Square where Do it for Druitt will offer you a warm welcome at their stall. 10am to 6 pm. Looking Forward to seeing you all!

Date added: 2010-11-24 15:25:44

Previous Community Fund Raising Events

Date added: 2010-07-10 11:39:21

Barn Dance at Christchurch Baptist Church

22 October – Barn Dance at Christchurch Baptist Church All are welcome to join in the fun and dancing at a Barn Dance in aid of the new Druitt Community Centre. No experience needed – basic dances will be taught and called as you dance. Come on your own or bring friends and family. Christchurch Baptist Church (Bargates) Friday 22nd October 2010 7:30 to 10:30 pm (doors open at 7 pm) Bring your own nibbles and drinks. Tickets: only £5 per person. Available from Christchurch Information Centre (01202 471780) or by sending crossed cheque payable to “Christchurch Community Partnership”. Send cheque, with s.a.e, to Julia Whelan, Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Christchurch. BH23 1AZ. Phone 01202 495017.

Date added: 2009-11-25 08:52:46

They Did It For Druitt!

Volunteers raising money towards the new Druitt Community Centre in Christchurch painted the town orange on their ‘Do It For Druitt!’ day. During the day they ran an orange tombola stall in the High Street and provided teas and coffees for people making donations towards the new Druitt Community Centre raising £300. Meanwhile, a donation of £500 has been received from the Elizabethan Lodge in Christchurch. The money was donated in memory of the late member of the Lodge, Brian Cox who had been the Master of Elizabethan Lodge twice as well as the Director of Ceremonies. Brian’s widow, Noriko was joined by the Worshipful Master of the Lodge, Jim Neil, to present the cheque to Cllr Josephine Spencer. Jim Neil said: “The Lodge is very pleased to support the new Druitt Community Centre as it is so important for the whole community in Christchurch.” Cllr Mrs Spencer added: “I’m delighted to receive this money on behalf of the steering group for Druitt Community Centre and would like to thank the Lodge for their support.”

Date added: 2009-11-23 10:01:06

Do it for Druitt Day

Hat's off to the Community Fund Raising Team who raised £299 despite the poor weather last Saturday. The fund raising event was held in Saxon Square with a coffee morning in the Druitt Hall. It received over 100 persons and helped to raise the profile of the New Druitt Hall Community Centre project.

Date added: 2009-11-18 15:13:03

Christchurch residents urged to Do It For Druitt!

Volunteers raising money towards the new Druitt Community Centre in Christchurch are hoping to paint the town orange on their ‘Do It For Druitt!’ day on Saturday 21 November 2009. The reason behind the orange theme is that the logo for the fundraising campaign for the Community Centre is that colour. To make sure the day is a real success, people interested in taking part are being asked to attend a ‘Drop In For Druitt’ event on Monday 9 November from 5pm to 7pm at Christchurch Baptist Church in Bargates. Sandra Prudom, chairman of the Druitt Community Centre Steering Group, explained: “We are really aiming to make a big splash on 21 November and raise a lot of money towards the new Community Centre. But we need help from as many people as possible from the community. “We want to run an Orange Tombola stall and would ask people to look out for anything orange they can donate to it. We have been in touch with the local schools and we hope that pupils will be coming up with some Christmas decorations and gifts that be sold on the stall. “We also need people who can do some street collecting on the day. If anyone feels they can help, even in the smallest way, or can donate something, please come along to the meeting on 9 November so that we know how many people we can count on. If people can’t come on that day, they can contact our volunteer co-ordinator, Rob Griffith, on 07907 868377 or email r.griffith@christchurch.gov.uk.

Date added: 2009-11-18 15:11:18

Bure Haven Drive ‘Do It For Druitt!’

One resident of a Christchurch road was so anxious to raise money towards the new Druitt Community Centre that she managed to persuade other residents of the road to club together to ‘buy a brick’. Carol Hellicar from Bure Haven Drive wrote to all of her neighbours to ask if they would be willing to contribute something towards her target of £250 for the brick. Carol said: “I really wanted to help but it was difficult to justify £250 for one of the bricks. I thought that if we all banded together we might be successful. I knew I was being a bit cheeky writing my letter to everyone, but I had a lovely response from more than half of the households in the road, so around 30 of them made a contribution.” Cllr Josephine Spencer was on hand to receive the money for the brick. She added: “I’m delighted that the residents of Bure Haven Drive have made this very generous contribution to buy a brick for the new Community Centre. “We hope that other roads in the Borough might take their example and consider buying a brick as well. If every road did this we would soon reach our target!”

Date added: 2009-11-18 10:05:56

Christchurch The Movie Supports Druitt Fund

New feature length film by Eric Montague coming to The Regent Centre 26th and 27th November 2009. An intriguing look at Christchurch Dorset with many surprises on the way. Lots of local music accompanies the sounds and sights of this beautiful area. Being shown with the 1939 film Newforest Borderland. Proceeds to the New Druitt Hall Fund and The Regent Centre. Tickets available from the box office or online.

Date added: 2009-09-09 16:47:50

More funds raised towards new Druitt Community Centre

The new Druitt Community Centre has taken a step nearer to fruition with money donated from Cllr Josephine Spencer’s mayoral year as well as the first donation from a charitable trust. Cllr Spencer raised £2,000 for the Community Centre during her mayoral year in 2007/08 and a cheque was presented to Sandra Prudom, chairman of the Druitt Community Centre Steering Group, at the Christchurch Council meeting at the Civic Offices. Meanwhile, £4,000 has been donated to the project from the Christchurch Drill Hall Charitable Trust. Sandra Prudom said: “I’m delighted to receive these two sizeable donations towards the new Community Centre bringing our funds to more than £12,000. We still have a long way to go before we reach our target of £1 million but we have a number of fund-raising opportunities currently being planned, including market stalls in Christchurch Market in October and a ‘Do It For Druitt’ day on 21 November when we aim to paint the town orange! “We will also be getting schools and voluntary organisations involved in coming up with ideas to raise funds in creative and fun ways. We’re hoping to encourage many people in the town to contribute to this exciting project which will give Christchurch the community facility it deserves.” The New Druitt Community Centre will be a landmark building in the very heart of Christchurch. As the town centre community centre with a hall, meeting rooms and café space it will be available for a wide range of community organisations and activities.

Date added: 2009-07-10 14:08:04

Buy a Brick appeal hits £6,000 pounds mark

The ‘BUY a Brick’ appeal in aid of a new Druitt Community Centre in Christchurch has hit the £6,000 mark. Bournemouth & West Hampshire Water (BWHW) has become the latest to donate £250 which is enough to buy one of the 1,000 foundation bricks targeted for the campaign. The ‘Buy a Brick’ appeal is part of a £1 million fundraising drive by Christchurch Community Partnership for a new two-storey building on the site of the present Druitt Hall. The appeal was officially launched on March 30. The new Druitt Community Centre has been planned as a landmark building for the benefit of all residents. Designed to blend into the woodland setting of Druitt Gardens, the centre is intended to be a ‘hub’ for organisations and activities. It includes a hall, meeting rooms and café space and will be open most of the day and evening. Tony Cooke, BWHW’s Managing Director, said: “"The new building is a much needed community resource. “We try very hard to be a good community citizen and are pleased to support this initiative. We wish the Steering Group every success in meeting their target." The Reverend Sandra Prudom, Chairman of the Druitt Community Centre Steering Group, said: “We are really thrilled that organisations like BWHW are supporting this valuable project. “However, there is still a long way to go so we would love to see other companies follow their example and get involved. Our website at www.thenewdruittfund.org.uk has full details on how to take part in our fundraising activities.”

Date added: 2009-05-07 10:58:00

Lions buy first bricks for Druitt Community Centre

The first foundation bricks for the new Druitt Community Centre in Christchurch have been bought by the Lions Club of Christchurch. The Club has donated £2,500 to the Buy a Brick campaign – enough to buy ten of the thousand bricks targeted for the campaign. President of the Lions Club, Barrie Kenyon, handed over the cheque for the bricks to Sandra Prudom, chairman of the Druitt Community Centre Steering Group, and made the first entry on the fundraising thermometer that will show the ongoing total of money raised. Barrie Kenyon said: “The Lions Club of Christchurch is proud to be the first sponsor in the Buy a Brick campaign for this important new facility for Christchurch. “We look forward to the completion of the project when this new hall will be in use for the benefit of all of the community in the Borough. This is very much in line with the aims of the Lions organisation – to raise funds for something which will benefit a wide part of the community.” The New Druitt Community Centre will be a landmark building in the very heart of Christchurch. As the town centre community centre with a hall, meeting rooms and café space it will be available for a wide range of community organisations and activities.

Date added: 2009-01-20 10:00:19

Druitt Gardens drop-in day

The drop-in day at Druitt Gardens, arranged to explain the developments which are proposed for the woodland area behind Christchurch High Street, was a great success. More than 150 residents visited the Gardens during the day to see plans and drawings of how the gardens might look after work proposed in a Landscape Master Plan has taken place. Landscape Architect Hilary Martin took people on guided walks to show how the plans would translate into reality in the gardens themselves while historian Sue Newman also undertook walks to explain the history of the area. Christchurch Council’s Director of Community Services, Nigel Davies, said: “It was an extremely successful day and we received a very positive response to our proposals. We look forward to receiving the completed questionnaires which people took away with them before the consultation closing date of 20 February.” Anyone who was unable to visit the gardens on Saturday but who would like to view the Master Plan can see it at the Civic Offices, the libraries and the Information Centre in the High Street.

Date added: 2009-01-19 19:09:23

Website launched for New Druitt Community Centre

A campaign to raise £1 million for a new community centre for Christchurch has had a kick-start with the launch of a website aimed at attracting donations. A new Druitt Community Centre to replace the aging hall behind the library in the High Street has long been a dream for Christchurch residents. Now with plans drawn up and planning permission secured, the fundraising is to begin in earnest. The website – www.thenewdruittfund.org.uk – has been designed to not only give background information about the proposed centre, along with a 3D rotating image of how the building will look, but also to make it easy for people to make donations and get involved in fundraising. A comprehensive fundraising pack can be downloaded to give ideas for ways in which people can get involved to “Do It for Druitt”. The website has details of a “Buy a Brick” campaign whereby individuals or organisations can get their name recognised by buying one of 1,000 foundation bricks for the Centre. There are also opportunities to become a sponsor or patron of the building. People can donate money to the fund securely via Paypal from the site using credit or debit cards, but details are also given of other ways to donate money by post or in banks. Sandra Prudom, chairman of the Druitt Community Centre Steering Group, part of Christchurch Community Partnership, said: “This is a great opportunity for people to take ownership of a building which will really be at the heart of Christchurch. The website is full of suggestions on ways people can get involved to bring this project to fruition and have fun at the same time. “When the building is completed, it will provide adaptable space for a wide range of groups and organisations to use. I would urge everyone who cares about the community in Christchurch to visit the website to see what it’s all about and get involved by donating money or partnering us in fundraising so that we can get this wonderful building completed as quickly as possible.” The website has been designed by Ripe Ideas, a creative marketing solutions company in Christchurch and the 3D model has been supplied by Elliot Newman, a former Twynham School student who now works as a visual effects artist in the film industry. The New Druitt Community Centre will be a landmark building in the very heart of Christchurch and a fitting gateway to a newly restored Druitt Gardens. As the town centre community centre with a hall, meeting rooms and café space it will be available for a wide range of community organisations and activities. The Christchurch Community Partnership, a charitable network organisation involving statutory, business, voluntary organisations and lay people, is behind the project. The Partnership chose this project to demonstrate how effectively diverse groups of people can work together towards a common purpose.