Town Council Encourages Community to Make the Most of James West Community Centre

Hailsham Town Council is encouraging residents, community groups, clubs and organisations to make full use of the James West Community Centre, highlighting the venue’s excellent facilities, recent improvements and growing role as one of the town’s leading community hubs.

Situated in Brunel Drive, the Centre has established itself as a popular venue for a diverse range of activities and events, offering flexible, modern facilities suitable for everything from fitness classes and sports clubs to business meetings, community events and private celebrations.

The Centre is currently home to a wide variety of regular user groups, reflecting the breadth of activities available to the local community. Organisations using the venue include Hailsham Table Tennis Club, Monday Youth Hub, Hailsham Netball Club, Hailsham Voices Community Pop Choir, Hailsham U3A, Yoga with Dawn, Little Kickers, Rugby Tots, Happy Fit and PW Performers. It also provides meeting space for a number of local support organisations, including DISC Dementia Support, Breathe Easy Support Group, East Sussex Seniors’ Association and Hailsham Parkinson’s Society.

Whether it’s a weekly class, club meeting, children’s activity, conference, exhibition, family celebration or fundraising event, the James West Community Centre offers a welcoming and adaptable environment capable of meeting a wide range of community needs.

As part of the Town Council’s ongoing investment programme, several improvements have recently been completed to enhance the Centre for users and visitors. The main hall has been fully repainted, creating a brighter and more welcoming environment, while a new state-of-the-art lighting system has been installed, enabling hirers to adjust both lighting levels and settings to suit different activities and events.

Further enhancements include improved acoustics in the meeting rooms, new projection equipment, additional seating in the foyer, energy-efficient lighting in the car park and the installation of a refreshments vending machine. The main hall has also been adapted to accommodate sports including netball and pickleball, increasing its versatility and appeal to sporting organisations.

The Centre’s facilities include a spacious 18-metre by 11.7-metre main hall, capable of accommodating up to 200 people, together with two well-equipped meeting rooms, a modern kitchen, changing facilities, storage areas, accessible toilets and a built-in public address system.

These facilities make the venue suitable for an extensive range of uses, including exercise classes, toddler groups, dance schools, training sessions, exhibitions, markets, weddings, birthday parties, children’s events and community celebrations, with sufficient space for equipment such as inflatables and bouncy castles.

Councillor Dave Chapman, Chair of the Town Council’s Assets Management Committee, said: “The James West Community Centre is one of Hailsham’s most important community assets and continues to play a vital role in supporting local organisations and bringing people together. The variety of groups already using the Centre demonstrates just how versatile the facility is, and we’re keen to see even more clubs, businesses and community organisations take advantage of everything it has to offer.”

“The Town Council has continued to invest in the Centre to ensure it remains a modern, accessible and attractive venue for the community. These improvements are helping to future-proof the building and provide high-quality facilities that meet the needs of residents for many years to come.”

Tony Lee, Operations and Facilities Manager at Hailsham Town Council, said: “We’ve worked hard to continually improve the James West Community Centre, responding to feedback from users and investing in facilities that make the venue more comfortable, practical and flexible. The recent upgrades have significantly enhanced the experience for hirers, whether they’re running a sports session, a community meeting or a private function.”

“We would encourage anyone looking for a venue to come and see what the Centre has to offer. Its combination of modern facilities, flexible spaces, convenient location and competitive hire rates makes it an excellent choice for a wide range of activities and events.”

The Town Council welcomes enquiries from prospective hirers and is keen to hear from new community groups, clubs, businesses and organisations looking for a high-quality venue in the heart of Hailsham.

For further information about hiring the James West Community Centre, or to arrange a viewing, contact Hailsham Town Council on 01323 841702 or email jameswestcentre@hailsham-tc.gov.uk.