Thaxted Day Centre set to reopen as Pam's Place
An important community building closed due to the pandemic is to reopen with a new name and the prospect of widening its use for local people.
From 2 March, Thaxted Day Centre will be known as 'Pam's Place' in memory of Pam Croome, a prominent Thaxted resident who founded the day centre and was its first chairperson from 1972 to 1983.
A new service delivery set-up will complement the name change, with the facility entirely run by the community through a charitable trust.
An open meeting on Wednesday 9 March, 7.30pm at Pam's Place is open for anyone who has ideas or wishes to volunteer to help make it a success, as well as anyone who wants to make use of the day centre.
Cllr Mike Tayler, who is one of the trustees, said: "This is a community building that has been greatly missed throughout the pandemic and its reopening is significant for both the people who have used it in the past and for a wider cross section of the community.
"We are very grateful for the hard work of Vanessa Pedder and Mike Collins in helping to make this possible, and also Uttlesford District Council for the continued support and financial contributions that have enabled this to happen.
"The day centre has always been well supported by both staff and volunteers and we hope local people will be inspired once again to get involved, to come up with ideas on how we can make best of the building, and to step forward as helpers."
Uttlesford District Council, which rebuilt and refurbished the Thaxted Day Centre building in 2009 and has been responsible for it until now, has worked with the trustees to get the new community venture up and running. This follows a wider review of all the authority's day centres and is part of an ongoing commitment to reimagining how the buildings can better serve the communities they are in.
Cllr Richard Freeman, Portfolio Holder for Council and Public Services, said: "With the relaxation of measures that were introduced to protect us from coronavirus, community facilities such as the day centres are needed more than ever in helping to reconnect neighbours and communities.
"We are therefore delighted to have enabled the reopening of Pam's Place, and will continue to support the Thaxted community in making it a success."
28 February 2022