Ockment Centre

‘A superb example of partnership’ - just one of the descriptions of Okehampton’s Ockment Centre, according to team member Donna Middleton.

Having worked at the Ockment Centre for over 15 years, Donna has seen some extensive changes during that time with the Centre growing into one of the town’s biggest and most important community resources.

The Ockment Centre plays host to a huge variety of groups and organisations. From the Friday Hub, which offers a wide ranging source of help, support and information, the work club (funded by Okehampton United Charity), the permanent office of the Citizens’ Advice Bureau,RISE Recovery and the CVS. Relate sessions, through to Weight Watchers, yoga, meetings of the local history group, karate sessions and dance sessions are all held at the centre. Anyone renting the rooms can also make use of the catering kitchen, which provides a variety of menu options or just simple refreshments. There are small intimate rooms to rent or the full sized hall, and others in between, so the Centre is ideal for a variety of meetings and training.

Donna is one of a team of six, plus a hugely hard-working and loyal band of volunteers and trustees who help run the centre.   “I started off as a creche worker and went on from there. I’ve learned so much about our community during that time. One of the things that makes it such a great place to work is that all the staff are so versatile and happy to just get stuck into whatever needs doing.  For example, we do a lot of decorating ourselves just to keep the costs down. The amount of voluntary time that people give to the Centre inspires the team to make sure it’s the best it can be. We have several trustees and volunteers who put hours and hours into this place and it’s great to see them getting something back.    It’s a lovely sociable place to work with a great deal of variety and you never know what’s going to come through the door next! Each day brings something different. It’s also extremely rewarding to see people being helped in so many different ways.’

‘We see this place as a real link between people and their community and we have also worked really hard to develop the ongoing link between the organisations that use the Centre.’

The Ockment Centre was the original Okehampton Primary School and it encompasses the next door original church hall. A real turning point in the set up came two years ago, when Devon County Council handed over ownership of the building to the trustees for a peppercorn sum, thereby releasing the burden of rent. Now largely self sufficient through room rental for the running costs, the centre is grateful for the support of grant funding from Okehampton Town Council.  However grant applications still have to be made for major projects such as the replacement of the ageing windows in the building.

Donna explains, “The building and grounds are one of the biggest challenges. There’s so much to maintain in such an old place.  The gardens are looking much improved now, thanks to the hard work of volunteers. The main hall now has decent heating, a new roof, windows, storage shed, furniture and a beautifully stripped floor.” 

The Centre even hosted its first wedding during the summer, an achievement which the Ockment team were delighted about.   “It looked so beautiful and we were all so pleased the couple were happy with it. The improvements that have been made make a huge difference particularly for family events. It was just a bit unloved before (and so cold in winter), so it will be wonderful for groups like U3A, Get Changed Theatre and Footsteps Dance that use it regularly.”

As Donna says, with so much going on in the building and with so many different organisations, it is very anonymous.   ‘I think this is one of the main reasons that people like the Centre  and why it has proved really successful — no-one knows what you are coming here for, whether it be a session with Relate or a yoga lesson or dance class”

The Centre welcomes anyone wishing to browse the information and leaflets about local events and services in the reception area and the staff will always be happy to try and help people find what they are looking for in the area.

For more information about what you can get involved in at the Ockment Centre look at their website www.ockmentcentre.org, or to enquire about renting a room please call 01837 53276 or email at ockment@nestscape.net - or just pop in to talk to one of the team at the reception desk.