Wimbledon Community Association (WCA) is a local charity with a long legacy of providing a charitable service to communities in Wimbledon and surrounding areas. It was founded in 1946 by a local group headed by Sir Cyril Black MP with the aim to promote the well-being of the broad community based around Wimbledon, to further cultural, social and physical welfare, and to foster a spirit of mutual service and friendship.
An independent registered charity, it is non-party political, non-sectarian and non-discriminatory on any social grounds.
In its more recent past the charity ran a thriving, busy community centre on St. Georges Road in the heart of Wimbledon. Until the premises were closed down in 2012 the centre attracted a significant footfall and was used by some 100 groups annually. These covered a multitude of self-help, leisure, educational, health, consultancy and sporting enterprises embracing all age groups and backgrounds.
Unfortunately, the community centre was closed down in 2012 due to ever increasing running and maintenance costs and the premises falling into disrepair. Having disposed of its interest in the old centre the WCA undertook a review of its future options as well as extensive consultation with providers of community space and groups that frequently use community space.
Based on this consultation, and in light of the fact that Merton is already home to a large variety of wonderful and diverse community venues, the new Board of Trustees decided to build a website aimed at connecting people with places and their passions instead of investing in actual premises for a new community centre at this time. The website, Wimblecomm, was launched in September 2016 and offers a digital community hub featuring a searchable and fully illustrated space directory and other content for Merton communities. Since its launch, Wimblecomm has grown to over 110 space listings, and has seen extensive technical, functional and editorial developments to become what is now a thriving online community hub for Merton.
Since the closure of the Wimbledon community centre, the charity’s board has operated with a small group of Trustees and a Secretary, all of whom unpaid. A part-time employee was appointed in May 2016 to help the Trustees with the development and marketing of Wimblecomm. The team is also supported by an external web developer/designer and has, more recently, added another contract part-time team member.
Whilst the acquisition of new physical premises or the collaboration with an existing provider is always considered as part of the charity’s long term vision, the Board is currently focused on the development and marketing of its online community hub, Wimblecomm.
Details of our Trustees, Secretary, Staff and associated arrangements are provided in the ‘Our Team’ section.
Wimbledon Community Association Limited
c/o 66 Kings Road
Wimbledon
London SW19 8QW
Registered Charity No 1097305
Company Number 03825493
Copyright © 2023 Wimbledon Community Association