Published on
22 January 2025
New partner proposed for Matthewsgreen Community Centre
The space could become a focal point for the local community
Wokingham could be getting a new community hub following a proposal to appoint Reading Repertory Theatre to run Matthewsgreen community centre in north Wokingham.
The proposal will be discussed at the Executive meeting next Thursday (30 January) and, if approved, will see the charitable trust taking on management of the site later in the spring.
The space could be transformed into a vibrant community and cultural hub, offering a range of creative activities including workshops, youth theatre groups, community driven performances and educational programmes. The centre would also offer rooms to hire for local people and organisations including community meetings, events and celebrations.
How the partner was selected
In September 2024 the council started the process of finding a partner to run the Matthewsgreen Community Centre which was built by developers as part of the north Wokingham housing developments.
Seven organisations expressed an interest in running the centre and the four strongest bids were invited to talk to the council about their ideas in more detail. Their bids were then considered against a range of criteria including their vision for the space, how it would be run for all community users, financial viability and their approach to safeguarding and inclusion.
The bid from the Reading Rep Theatre charitable trust particularly impressed the council with their vision for how the hub could become a focal point for the local area and create a space where creativity and community can flourish together.
The proposals also closely aligned with the Wokingham Borough Communities Vision and placed an emphasis on ideas for helping tackle local issues including breaking down barriers and engaging with diverse communities; a range of different age groups including families, young people and older generations; and working with those with special educational needs (SEN).
Already making an impact on the borough
“We had several fantastic organisations who were interested in taking on the space. It was a difficult decision to make but we believe Reading Rep Theatre are the right partner to work with on creating an inclusive space for the community.” Said, Cllr Rachel Bishop-Firth, executive member for resident services, inclusion and fighting poverty. “Whilst most people associate them with the theatre they run in Reading, this is just one of the things they do as an organisation. They are already delivering several community activities in Wokingham borough and are keen to run more.
“Having a permanent home in Matthewsgreen would help them achieve this ambition and enable them to roll out a fantastic programme of community activities which would benefit people across the borough.”
Next steps
Should the proposals be approved by the Executive the council will proceed with entering into a lease agreement with Reading Rep Theatre charitable trust.
It is expected that this could take around three months to complete, with the new Community Centre opening later this spring.
