After working with the local community for over 40 years, The ClementJames Centre needs more space in Sirdar Road to continue to deliver education, employment and support services within our community.
We are delighted that the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea granted The ClementJames Centre planning permission in mid-December 2020, enabling us to extend our buildings, enhance our beautiful community gardens and support thousands more local people each year.
We are delighted to share our project.
This is what we propose:
Our beautiful garden and welcoming premises at The ClementJames Centre provide a sense of calm and safety in our busy and at times stressful lives.
We have been looking ahead for some years, as the Centre has reached its capacity. With long waiting lists and ever-growing demand locally, we are looking to extend our facilities to provide greater support to our community. Our building plans involve a new Learning Annexe and a Winter Garden created by covering an under-utilised area of the site; we will also maintain our tranquil community garden.
Learning Annexe
The focus of our project will be a two-storey facility which will be attached to our existing learning building, replacing the current single storey studios. The building will provide:
- 5 new teaching/workshop facilities
- A new reception and office
- New toilet facilities
- A lift providing access to all areas
Retaining the feel of our beautiful garden space has always been integral to our plans. We are also introducing a covered walkway with a planted roof (commonly called a green roof) linking the Learning Annexe with the existing learning building and the Winter Garden. This will allow people to enjoy the garden throughout the year.
Winter Garden
An enclosed winter garden:
- Year-round use for meetings and gatherings
- Timber and glass roof
- Utilising under-used space between the Centre and the Church
The indoor open plan space will enable us to hold large group activities and events throughout the year, as well as providing opportunities for informal meetings whatever the weather.
Community Garden
We know how important our Community Garden is to our users and the local community. This is why we are planning better use of the space whilst maintaining the tranquil and peaceful garden which is integral to the Centre.
More Support
The new space will enable us to provide:
- Additional classes each week for adults and young people
- More one-to-one employment, education, and advice appointments
- Specialist employment and wellbeing workshops
- Level access to both our existing building and the new building
- Space for partner organisations and specialist agencies to deliver their services on site
More Opportunities
Each year this will mean we can support up to:
- 300 local people gaining employment or training and 400 young people in education with improved goal setting and increased employability.
- 600 adult learners improving English, Maths, and IT skills, gaining qualifications.
- 2,300 young people with raised aspirations, increased confidence and improved academic achievement.
- 1,500 local adults with increased confidence, reduced isolation and greater ability to cope with challenges.
Support our project
We are proud of our long history providing support for people in the local area but we know that there are thousands more people that could benefit from our help.
To make this project a reality, we need to raise £3.6m. If you are interested in supporting our plans, please get in touch with our Chief Executive Officer, Dami Solebo, by email at dami@clementjames.org to arrange a visit (when possible) and find out how you can be involved.