About the Centre

A unique resource

The Resource Centre is a charity serving voluntary and community groups in the Brighton and Hove area. We are used by around 1000 different local groups every year, from playgroups to environmental campaigns, residents associations to arts organisations.

The Centre has been in existence since 1975. Through many changes over the decades since then, the Centre has retained its unique position as a supportive space for grass roots community activity in Brighton and Hove.

The Resource Centre has survived and grown because of a distinctive philosophy and flexible practice. Key to our success are:

  • Providing practical services, asked for by groups.
  • Keeping our focus on small groups, rooted in the communities they serve
  • Giving priority to the needs of groups in marginalised communities, and taking our lead from them
  • Working intensively with groups in a timely and responsive way
  • Supporting our experienced team of staff to keep the Centre open, accessible and efficient

Practical services

We provide a well-resourced print room, a range of equipment for hire, a calm space to work, and a widely praised online information service for groups. All our services have been developed in response to requests from community groups, and they are heavily used by groups across Brighton and Hove and beyond.

Grass roots focus

We believe in supporting the community activity of ordinary people, and our focus is on the small groups that emerge from communities when people get together to improve their own lives and the lives of the people around them.

Priority direction

Because we want our services to be accessible to all groups who need them, we take extra steps to make sure groups in marginalised communities are not squeezed out. We offer additional support to groups based in areas of social housing, ethnic minority groups, and groups run by disabled people.

Rather than parachuting in with worthy advice, we take our lead from groups in the most deprived areas of the city. Our member groups are all based in areas of social housing, and our management committee is elected by and composed of activists in these groups.

Our current management committee (elected October 2009) is:

  • Jean Davis - Triangle Club
  • Ted Harman - Coldean Tenants’ and Leaseholders’ Association
  • Joe MacRae - Valley Road and Carden Court Residents' Association
  • John Pippard - Leach Court Tenants’ Association
  • Beryl Snelling - Sloane Court Tenants' Association
  • Roy Taylor - Knoll Community Association
  • Beryl Tucknott - East Brighton Bygones
  • Beverley Weaver - Foredown Estate Tenants’ Association
  • Councillor Mary Mears (appointed to the committee by Brighton & Hove City Council)

On the spot

We make our services available centrally for groups to use when they need them, rather than offering proactive training or community development support in neighbourhoods. We believe that our responsive approach complements other services available in the city, and enables groups to take the lead in obtaining support that exactly fits their specific needs.

To hear from groups about how our support makes a difference to their work, see the results of our latest user satisfaction survey, carried out in July 2008.

Team work

Our team of seven staff bring a wealth of experience, knowledge and commitment to the Centre. The staff work together to manage the Centre, maintain equipment and provide expert support to groups.

Our staff team is currently:

  • Dani Ahrens
  • Kate Chapman
  • Judy Goss
  • Alan Gray
  • Kate Page
  • Mireille Shimoda
  • Dave Witts

To email any member of staff directly, use this formula: firstname.lastname@resourcecentre.org.uk

Funding and other support

We receive core funding support from Brighton & Hove Council.

We are grateful to the Big Lottery Fund, Capacitybuilders, Brighton & Hove Housing Services, and City Early Years and Childcare for grant funding in 2008-09

We are also grateful to Sussex Community Internet Project for their continuing support with the development of this website.

We are legally constituted as a limited company, Brighton & Hove Social Welfare and Educational Trust.  The company is registered in England under no. 1730256.  Registered Charity no. 287516. We are registered for VAT under no. 861 1001 75.