Posted by
Emma White
On Thursday 14 November 2024, The Guildford Institute celebrated the grand opening of its new Community and Wellbeing Centre, with the Mayor of Guildford, Councillor Sallie Barker MBE, officially opening the facility.
The Institute has transformed its vacant ground-floor space on North Street into an important community space that provides accessible mental health support services in the town centre. It offers a welcoming and safe environment, with professional therapists and counsellors operating from six bespoke rooms.
Brian Creese, Institute Chairperson, says: “We thought it was a much better idea to turn this vacant space into something that was going to be of much more benefit to the community [following the departure of RBS Bank] and in line with what we as a charity want to be”.
For over 130 years, the Institute has been serving the local community from its Ward Street home by encouraging lifelong learning through its programme of activities, as well as providing social and wellbeing opportunities. People are at the heart of what the Institute do – it is always considering how it can best support the community – and that is what has inspired the Community & Wellbeing Centre to be built.
The Mayor of Guildford, Councillor Sallie Barker MBE says: “I’m really delighted to be here to open this new facility at the Institute…having helped and supported our town for over 100 years, it is wonderful to see that it is adapting and evolving to meet the changing needs of our community”.
Other notable individuals and organisations in attendance included Zoe Franklin, MP for Guildford, Councillor Vanessa King and former Councillor John Redpath.
Longstanding supporters of the Institute also joined the celebration, along with therapists and counsellors based at the centre.
The Institute has used its charity reserves to fund building the Community and Wellbeing Centre, meaning that donations and fundraising continue to be essential. It hopes to carry out Phase II of the project in the future, which will connect the centre to the main part of the Institute and provide an accessible toilet.
The beautiful artwork that fills the walls has kindly been donated by local artist Becca Clegg.
Visit The Guildford Institute’s website to find out more about the support services on offer at the Community and Wellbeing Centre.