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Celebrating Art and Culture

Building a thriving community isn’t just about the facilities we create but the connections and memories we cultivate within them. We are delighted to announce an upcoming Art and Culture Event, designed to inspire, engage, and bring together the talented and creative minds of our community. This exciting event is set to take place on Saturday, 9th March, from 4:00 PM, and it promises to be a celebration of artistry and togetherness like no other.

A Platform for Creativity

Our Art and Culture Event will feature a dynamic blend of activities, making it a hub for artists, families, and culture enthusiasts. Thanks to a successful ward funding grant, we’ve been able to cover overheads and offer the opportunity for local talent to showcase their backgrounds via their chosen medium.

To support creativity in the community, the community centre is providing a limited number of canvases and paints to local artists who apply. With categories for both adults and children, everyone has a chance to showcase their unique artistic perspective.

An Evening of Entertainment

The event will also feature a live singer, performing from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, adding a melodic backdrop to the artistic energy. Attendees can enjoy free refreshments throughout the event, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for families, friends, and individuals alike.

Celebrating Talent with Prizes

At the heart of the event is the prestigious competition for the title of “Great Park Artist of the Year.” Prizes and trophies will be awarded to the winners of both the adult and children’s categories, recognising their creativity and dedication. It’s not just about the title; it’s about celebrating the incredible talent that resides within our community and encouraging artistic growth for all.

Strengthening Community Bonds

This event is more than an art showcase; it’s a testament to the strength and vibrancy of our community. We are proud to host an event that brings people together, offering opportunities for personal expression while fostering a sense of belonging and pride.

We believe events like these highlight the importance of community facilities operating as more than just spaces—they are platforms for connection, inspiration, and mutual support. By aligning our resources with the aspirations of the community, we continue to grow as a hub of creativity and culture.

Join Us

We can’t wait to see who will step forward to share their artistic talents and be part of this incredible celebration. Whether you’re an artist, an art enthusiast, or simply looking for a fun and inspiring day out, this event is for you.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, 9th March, and join us at the community centre for an evening of art, culture, and connection. Let’s make it a day to celebrate the amazing talent that defines our community!

HO HO HO! The holiday season is almost here, and we can feel the excitement building! We know you’re all ready to kick back and enjoy the festivities, and here at GPCC, we’re right there with you. But before we dive into the festive season, we had to throw one last big celebration - our annual Christmas party!

We kicked off the Christmas cheer with the one and only GNG Disco, who set the perfect festive vibe with his groovy tunes and dazzling lights. The party games kept everyone on their toes as we rocked around the Christmas tree in style!

Of course, it’s not Christmas without the Big Man himself - Santa Ste! In our cozy custom Christmas Grotto, it was simply a magical experience and definitely the highlight of the day. Not to mention his special appearance on the dance floor! And to round it off, an amazing book gifted to each child - perfect to snuggle up with when the weather outside is frightful.

The kids weren’t just sitting around waiting for presents though. We had a fantastic range of activities to keep everyone busy. Our reindeer dust station was sure to put a bit of sparkle in your day and our Christmas door hangers were certainly the perfect custom decoration for the house. Pair that with our fabulous soft play and there was no way to get bored!

And finally, what’s a party without some tasty treats, right? The GPFC cafe had everyone covered with some delightfully warm drinks and some tasty hot dogs. Scrumptious hot chocolates with cream and marshmallows were surely the best way to end an exciting afternoon.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and continues to support us at GPCC. We are incredibly grateful for your unwavering support, and we can’t wait to see you again in the New Year. Merry Christmas from all of us at GPCC!

P.S Make sure to check out our brand new Great Park Christmas Windows in collaboration with Brunton Residential! Snap a pic, tag us both and you’ll be in the running for an incredible NAMCO Funscape voucher!

BOO! We certainly had a Happy Halloween at GPCC thanks to our Spooky Spectacular this October. Stick around and we won’t let you miss out on the fun!

There’s certainly things that go bump in the night, but not here at the centre. We brought out our most fabulously wicked decorations for you to enjoy, from ghosts to goblins, cobwebs and bats galore! Our personal favourite was the creepy clown hovering above the cafe - definitely a hair-raising scare on the dancefloor!

Even the zombies must have come out to play thanks to a thriller of a set from GNG Disco. Our favourite resident DJ pulled out all the stops with the spookiest tunes, brilliant party games and the most show-stopping light show. With parents and children alike boogieing on the dancefloor, the centre was truly unalive with energy.

Speaking of energy, a Halloween party wouldn’t be complete without sweets! And if our complimentary treat bag at the door wasn’t enough for you, our biscuit decorating station surely offered the ultimate sugar fix, with unlimited icing and sprinkles to create the most frightening designs. And we musn’t forget our spectacular cafe, always on-hand with the most delicious coffees and hot dogs for our guests.

But parents, don’t fret! Our bouncy castle, softplay and Halloween games were certainly enough to burn out the excess energy. Did you manage to snag a prize from the Spider Splat? How about making a spooky softplay fort? With plenty to do, it was impossible to run out of things to do!

But the best part of it all was of course, your fabulous costumes! We had to showcase some of our favourites on our Facebook and Instagram so please head there for some more of our fiendish fun! Thank you to everyone who joined us- we can’t wait to see you all again soon for more spooktacular events!

After our record-breaking, sellout Halloween party (and our Christmas party swiftly following suit), we are offering another incredible event here at GPCC! For FREE entry, get ready for our Christmas children’s drop-in on 24th November!

We have a whole host of activities available in store, from the fabulous Popolo Ceramico with their wonderful ceramics, to our most enthusiastic friends at Radio Lollipop offering crafts and badge-making, there’s something for every little one. Plus, just like we’ll be decking the halls of the community centre, Hello Glitty is offering amazing hair tinsel so you can shine as bright as a Christmas star!

And it wouldn’t be a drop-in session without our classic bouncy castle and soft play- the perfect way to stay away from the winter blues. Pair that with a delightfully festive hot drink from our café, now under brand-new management, and there’s no better way to spend a weekend.

So crank up those Christmas tunes, mark your calendars and join us at GPCC for an unforgettable day of holiday cheer. Whether you're crafting, bouncing or simply here for a good time, you won’t wanna miss out. Bring on the Christmas spirit- we can’t wait to see you there!

Our Little Library is now open!

Please welcome GPCC’s newest addition- our Little Library! Courtesy of ASDA’s incredibly generous £1000 donation, our latest developing project is now underway. We now have the coziest little reading nook for children (and adults) as the perfect small getaway from the stress of life. Filled with an abundant treasure trove of stories, cushions, and monkeys galore, we are so excited to share this passion project with the community, to foster a new love of learning and literacy for the youth in the community.

In a world that is increasingly reliant on technology, GPCC are hoping to set an example for the next generation and advocate for face-to-face communication and social development through interactive and creative imagination. Reading not only helps a child’s academic development, but increases empathy, resilience, speech development and focus. With two nearby schools and a nursery within the centre, we are always making sure every child that uses our facilities is well-equipped to take their next educational steps.

We hope you enjoy our new space! Make sure to follow us on all our socials to give us feedback and for more updates like this!

WOW! What an event we had on 20th July to celebrate our 10th birthday! We had so much going on it’s going to be hard to fit it all in!

Forget the Olympics, Rugby Minis and Football Squirts challenges pushed the limits of even the finest of players, with the cream of the crop rewarded with a chocolatey prize! Not to mention, our hook a duck stall was a surefire hit with the crowd-certainly more challenging than it looked!

We had a fantastic array of performances throughout the day, including Wilkins Dance school, Ebony & Ivory music school and Taekwondo with Anthony McKenna. Together with our fabulous raffle supported by an abundance of local businesses, glitter tattoos, bouncy castle and a multitude of crafts from ArtVentures and Radio Lollipop, there was absolutely no way to become bored.

Needed a bite to eat? Great Park Shake Shack, Habibi Come and Delhi Delights were on call to satisfy all cravings in the delightful summer heat. And Scotty’s ice cream van had the most enormous ice creams I’ve ever seen! With the sun out to celebrate with us, it was definitely the perfect opportunity to take a break outside amongst all the excitement and soak up the atmosphere.

The entertainment didn’t stop in the evening either, with the fabulous Hannah Stanton performing a spellbinding setlist of classics for everyone. With our exclusive bar providing a whole host of drinks to enjoy, it was a brilliant way to wind down on a Saturday evening.

And finally, we hope you didn’t miss them- Bluey and Bingo from Quidos entertainment were here to test out all the activities we had in store! From The Kids Club Coding club to kids yoga with Dovile Gandhi, there was definitely something for everyone.

We want to say a massive thank you to everyone involved, from our raffle donors, volunteers, staff and everyone who came. It was certainly a momentous way to mark 10 years of our community. Please make sure to follow us on all of our socials for future events like this and don’t forget to tag us in your event photos!

Jam-packed with activities for the kids, it would have been a mistake not to start with our FREE Easter Egg Hunt around the whole centre, a fantastic way to burn off some steam. Did you manage to find all 6 eggs for a chocolatey prize?

But if you didn’t fancy any chocolate (which is certainly a mistake at Easter), Shake Shack and Lucca’s Pizza Van were cooking up a storm, selling a delicious array of drinks and bites to eat. Plus, with our mini biscuit decorating station for only 50p, there was nothing to go wrong!

Decked out in the finest rainbow balloons, the centre was definitely a dazzling spectacle to behold. As always, GNG Disco led the way with the perfect set of tunes and party games for the occasion. Our bouncy castle and colouring-in competition definitely brought in the crowds- make sure to check our Facebook page to see if you’ve won a prize! The selection of stalls was certainly the best I’ve ever seen- everything from handmade toys to flower bouquets, upcycled clothes to incredible cakes, ceramics to raffle prizes, sparkly jewellery, sparkly tattoos and even sparkly hair extensions!

Readily prepped for the sportiest of us all, Football Squirts held the most fantastic football challenges outside, with Easter egg prizes galore. There’s certainly some amazing kickers around Great Park! And we can’t forget Dr Bike, kindly sorting out all your cycling needs.

And since it’s Easter, we couldn’t forget the bunnies! A GPCC first, Plantpots mini barn was a surefire-hit with the kids, with a chance to meet some real-life rabbits and eggs waiting to hatch into spring-time chicks! Couldn’t get enough of the fluff? If you played our ‘Guess the Name of the Bunny’, you might’ve been able to take home your very own giant furry friend, kindly donated by ASDA. But the star of the show had to be… drumroll please… our very own Peter Rabbit coming for a very special visit to GPCC! We hope you made sure to grab a picture and a cottontail hug before you left!

So that’s it! We hope you had the most phenomenal time and a brilliant Easter weekend. A massive thanks to all our stallholders and patrons to make this event so wonderful. Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more updates like this!

Join us for an Easter-Filled Fun Day!

On Sunday 24th March 11-3pm, get ready for the most amazing family event here at GPCC. We are hosting the most exciting egg hunt here at Great Park so make sure to find them all to receive your very own chocolatey prize!

And, for the first time ever, GPCC is hosting our very own indoor barn! Come in to see LIVE chicks and rabbits in the centre (if you’re lucky you might even be able to see the eggs hatch before the event!).

In addition, there’s a whole host of activities to join in with: a sensational disco, party games, crafting, bouncy castle, market stalls- the list goes on and on!
A perfect way for the kids (and adults) to blow off some steam, Football Squirts will be running an exclusive set of football activities suitable for all ages to get some fresh air. Not to mention, Dr Bike is ready to fix all of your cycling needs!

And whilst you’re at it, why not take home a scrumptious Shake Shack milkshake or even a full fire-baked pizza from Lucca’s Pizza Van!
For free entry, there’s nothing to lose so make sure to pop in! A special cottontail visitor will surely make it worth your while!

The festive season is in full swing at GPCC!

Party time!

Kicking off the holiday celebrations, the Children’s Christmas party was a surefire hit with all the crowd. The best way to warm up from the cold, GNG Disco’s fabulous tunes and party games were perfect for a little Christmas boogie. Complete with our classic bouncy castle and soft play combo, it was the best opportunity for the kids to blow off some steam and feel the Christmas spirit.

But of course, we couldn’t just stop there. As part of our exclusive party package, each child got to paint their very own Christmas tealight holder, the perfect homemade gift for loved ones and the prettiest way to spice up your mantelpiece. What’s more, our reindeer dust and glitter tattoo stations were the most magical way to keep busy, with Great Park Shake Shack on hand with their exclusive, limited-edition Christmas shakes and coffee for a special festive treat.

And finally, the big man himself, Santa Ste! In our very own transformed Christmas grotto, Father Christmas was here to listen to all your Christmas wishes, just in time before heading back to the North Pole. But not before giving a special gift to unwrap and take home- we hope you enjoyed your new books!

Christmas Market

The fun wasn’t over yet though, with Sunday marking our annual Christmas market. It was definitely the event of the season, with a massive array of stalls full to the brim with goodies. From fragrances to gift sets, toys and sweets, hair glitter, accessories, artwork and more, there was definitely something for all the family. The highlight of the event had to be the tremendous Ravenswood Carol Singers, providing a heartwarming and cheerful rendition of all your Christmas favourites.

And there has to be a whole section dedicated to the food. Jam Jar food truck brought the most mouth-watering burgers to the centre, with Desserts Delivered bringing their festive cakes with delicious indian snacks. And Christmas can’t be Christmas without mulled wine (or Great Park Shake Shack milkshakes for the kids)! With an array of promising delights from Made by Hollie.

Since Christmas is also a time for giving, at GPCC we always endeavor to provide opportunities to help those in need. Shout out to Radio Lollipop whose work provides care and joy to children in hospital and to Brenda selling her soft toys for charity. And taking a more sustainable approach to gifts this year, our Christmas toy swap was an eco-friendly way to get rid of old clutter in exchange for new pre-loved items.

All in all, we hope you had a great time at our events. Remember to follow all of our socials to keep up with future events. Have a wonderful Christmas and see you in the new year!

Something peculiar was happening inside GPCC on 29th October…

The annual children’s Halloween Party of course! A smash hit with everyone who came, the centre was prepared for the most ghoulishly exciting event of the year. Didn’t get tickets? Don’t worry- we won’t let you miss out on the highlights!

The centre underwent its most fiendish transformation yet, full of the most spine-tingling decorations we have ever pulled out. There was absolutely no shortage of cobwebs or pumpkins, with monsters lurking in every corner, and we mustn't forget our fabulous Halloween windows! It was truly a whimsical world of ghosts and ghouls-the perfect setting for a petrifying party.

Speaking of party, we can’t forget the main event: the disco! GNG Disco put together the spookiest setlist, sure to make anyone get up on their feet and dance. Everyone pulled out the stops with their costumes, from witches to superheroes, pumpkins to skeletons- I think I even saw a Minecraft creeper!

But even if you needed a break from boogieing, there was plenty to get up to. Soft play for the little ones, bouncy castle, party games, creepy Halloween crafts and the highlight of the session: a fantastic custom trick-or-treat bag to take home from the wonderful ArtVentures.

Great Park Shake Shack was also here to provide the nicest drinks and the sweetest treats for everyone. Their phenomenal Halloween milkshakes are definitely some of the best in town- come down to try their terrific selection on weekdays and events. And Halloween wouldn’t be complete without the sweet bags of course- we hope you didn’t forget to collect one as part of your ticket!

All in all, it was a sensational day at the centre and the perfect way to celebrate the spooky season with the community. Make sure to stay tuned with all of our socials so you never miss an event like this! I think I hear jingle bells coming soon…