The Drop In Centre is a community anchor organisation managed by volunteers working on behalf of the community. We provide a range of support, projects and activities designed to reflect the needs and wishes of the community using a resident led approach to addressing issues and creating viable solutions.

Stairway to the Drop In Centre

The Drop In Centre was opened in April 1999 by the then Chair of Newydd Housing Association Mr. David Clapham and was part of the Association’s support provision to the Residents of Thompson Street estate. The Centre’s role was to provide a liaison service between Residents and the landlord as well as help the community overcome a number of difficulties evident at that time.

Thompson Street estate’s Resident Panel (established in 1994) also made the Drop In Centre it’s base and, together with Newydd’s Community Development Officer, began to encourage the community to work to identify solutions.

Over the past 10 years resident volunteers and centre staff have made funding bids to provide a range of projects within the community totalling £144,709 and have dealt with over 4,833 queries. The Thompson Street Estate Revival Strategy introduced the first of what was to become many projects to the community in the form of Avian Community Business Limited. Avian is a resident owned gardening company that still provides the grounds maintenance service to the estate and other sites to this day! Other projects include activities for children and young people, community events, formal and informal learning groups as well as our liaison role with the landlord and other service agencies.

There have been many ups and downs along the way and we have often considered giving up but, by working together in the community we began to bring about positive change and remain steadfast in our resident led approach to the services and support we provide.

From our early beginnings, the Drop In Centre has grown into an established community anchor organisation and in June 2009 became a registered charitable company.