About Us
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Ethos
The Centre welcomes all people irrespective of race, religion, gender, wealth, status or age. However, abusive behaviour of any sort will not be tolerated.
The Strand Centre relies on volunteers for most of what it does, and it is committed to supporting, encouraging, protecting and offering personal development to its volunteers. In this way the Centre reflects the community it seeks to help and aims to serve the people of Dawlish by providing a safe and friendly space for meetings and activities. Its main activity is the Inspire Cafe which, apart from the Chef/Manager, is run by volunteers, some of whom gain work experience (see elsewhere). The Centre provides a place where the local homeless can get food, clothes and support, and a former Social Service worker can provide advice on a whole range of issues.
The Centre’s current priority is to re-build a sense of community following the devastating effect of isolation during the COVID lockdown. This means providing food support through the Inspire Cafe and developing a range of community activities ranging from bingo to exhibitions, craft and antique sales. The Centre, which has the largest flexible space in the town, welcomes major events like the Art Group Annual Exhibition, competitions for the Garden Society, and providing space for organisations to meet. It is also the home of the Strand Church.
Finance
The Centre’s running costs are met from letting income from the function rooms, occasional grants, any profits from the cafe, donations from local organisations and donations from the public, an increasing number of whom support the campaign to give £10 a month or more to the Centre.
This enables the Centre to have a full time Manager and employ cleaners, but all the other work is done by volunteers. As shown below the Centre has won a kite mark indicating the quality of its work by meeting its requirements from fire safety to safeguarding.