About Parklands
A community centre serving Cheltenham since 1945.
The centre
Parklands Community Centre was founded in 1945 and is a registered charity (No. 301489). It sits next to Cheltenham Town Football Club's ground, about two miles from Cheltenham town centre.
The building is owned by Cheltenham Borough Council. The charity first took a lease on it more than 50 years ago, and in April 2021 the centre was registered as an Asset of Community Value, official recognition that it matters to the wellbeing of the local community.
What happens at Parklands
The centre's purpose is to offer educational, training, employment, recreational and wellbeing activities that meet local needs. Today it is home to:
- NHS clinics
- dance classes and community groups
- rooms to hire for meetings, parties and events
- a lounge bar
- a 120-space car park, free for centre users, which also provides matchday parking for Cheltenham Town FC
TODO: add the regular groups and activities, and a few words from people who use the centre.
Why the centre is at risk
Since early 2023 the charity has been in a legal dispute with Cheltenham Borough Council, which has opposed its request to renew the lease. Without a secure lease, the centre cannot plan for the future.
Parklands receives no public funding. It relies on income from the people and groups who use it, on fundraising and on donations, and the legal costs of defending its lease have added to that pressure.
TODO: summarise the latest position, e.g. recent court decisions and what happens next.
How you can help
Register your support so we can show how much the centre means to people, donate towards the costs of the campaign, and share this website with anyone who cares about Parklands.