St Thomas’s Community Network is a community learning centre, registered as a charity, with a brief to develop education, training and community activities in an informal setting.
The constitution dates back to 1990, although it had started locally before that. In the charitable objects it states that our aims are to develop the capacity and skills of members of the community, in such a way that they are able to participate more fully in society.
The centre is based in Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council premises of the former Blue Coat School in St Thomas’s Ward, Dudley, which is deemed to be disadvantaged, has the highest deprivation indicators in the borough and includes a diversity of communities.
From small beginnings, when local people set up Action Groups to address issues about the environment, young people’s activities, health, older people’s needs, employment etc. it has grown to be a successful centre delivering training for young people and adults in a number of vocational areas.
It is the home of a thriving day Nursery, the venue for after school and holiday clubs for children, a provider of learning for all ages and work placements for those over 14yrs old. For the community we are a place for local sports groups to train, and the home of The Furniture Store where donated furniture is restored and passed on to people on benefits or on a low income.
There is one project that works away from the main site; Hillside Herbs which is developing an acre site for the growing of herbs and vegetables using organic methods through horticultural training which is in Jasmine Road.
The Network faces a number of challenges; the area has suffered from the economic downturn over the last few years and has lived with an uncertain economic future. Against a background of less than favourable conditions individuals and the community groups have had considerable successes in identifying and addressing local needs.
Whilst working through local Colleges (currently Stourbridge College) we do not attempt to compete with them. We recognise that we have a specific role; that of working with people, often returners to learning, who lack the self-confidence to go to large institutions and who need to spend some time assessing their priorities and their potential. We are able to offer smaller classes and a range of additional support on site making our beneficiaries feel part of St.Thomas’s Community Network well as of the neighbourhood.
About half of our work now revolves around those under 19 years of age. We believe that the early years of a person’s life is extremely formative and we endeavour to give every child and young person the best possible start in life.
What we do
The centre has a Chief Executive who works through a team of Managers and coordinators to deliver a rich mix of facilities for the for the community which include:
- Vocational courses (through a franchise arrangement with Stourbridge College)
Non-Vocational leisure classes - Foundation Learning (16 – 18) a contract from YPLA via Age UK)
- Dudley Youth Achievement Foundation; Link 2 Learning (14 –16 year olds without a school place)
- Learndirect
- Little Saints Nursery
- Out of School Activities
- The Learning Centre
- Information Advice and Guidance
- Hillside Herbs (Community based)
- The Furniture Store
- Outreach
- The Administration team.
We have to actively seek funding for all of the above activities. This usually comes as a result of an application to deliver something e.g. training or information advice and guidance for the community in the form of a contract. Some of it is given by charitable trusts for a specific activity and some may be granted via one of the Lottery distributors.
The centre is based in Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council premises of the former Blue Coat School in St Thomas’s Ward, Dudley, which is deemed to be disadvantaged and that has the highest deprivation indicators in the borough and includes a diversity of communities.
