A Richmond community centre is preparing for a refurb to transform into a "modern, accessible, better designed community space".

Building work at Cambrian Community Centre on Grove Road will begin on Monday, 26 October and is set to continue until the end of February 2027.

Despite the redevelopment, the centre has said that its gym and community activities will continue throughout the four-month refurbishment period in accessible venues nearby.

Chair of Trustees, Sue Pendle, said: "We know that the Centre's wellbeing and leisure classes and the Gym are important for many in our community.

"That's why we've made every effort to continue our activities in nearby venues while our building is being refurbished.

"We hope Centre users will be able to maintain their active engagement with the Cambrian Community Centre.

"We will continue to welcome new people during this period."

The temporary gym will be installed in at St Matthias Church at the top of Church Road during the building works.

Gym equipment alongside the centre's specialist instructors Vicki, Sarah and Becky will be on hand every weekday from 9am to 3pm (5pm on Thursdays) and Saturdays from 9am to 1pm to provide guidance and encouragement, to not interrupt users' exercise programmes.

Additional venues include the Grove Gardens Chapel (home of The Fixery) in Lower Grove Road, a short walk from the Centre, which will host Drawing, Choir and Pilates classes on Mondays.

Gentle Yoga will continue at its usual time of 10am on Monday at Richmond Library Annexe in Quadrant Road in Richmond town centre.

The Gentle Weights class keeps its Thursday 12:30pm to 1:30pm slot in Ham Library Annexe in Ham Street.

The Dickson House Atrium, facing Cambrian Square, will host Cardiac classes on Friday 1:30pm to 2:30pm.

However, the Wednesday café will be paused while the Centre's kitchen is out of use, but the Food Hub will offer supermarket surplus and donated food including fruit, vegetables and pastries in Cambrian Square just behind the Centre.

A visit to the hub can be combined with a cup of tea at our social space at Grove Gardens Chapel on Wednesday lunchtime.

"We look forward to welcoming you to the renewed, improved Centre in the spring, and to joining us in developing exciting new projects for the year ahead," added Pendle.

The Centre said it is grateful to Richmond Foundation and Richmond Council for funding the refurbishment.

The group will post regular updates on how the work progresses. Full details of alternative locations are on the Centre's website here.

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