As a church, we care for our community, and we are passionate about finding practical ways to serve those who live in Bletchley and in our city. In the early 2000s, St Mary’s bought a building and established the St Mary’s Community Centre. We run various activities throughout the year, responding to the needs we see in the surrounding area(s). You can find us on the corner of Conway Crescent and Warwick Road, Bletchley (MK3 6AR), within an area of high-density housing in close proximity to fourteen schools. Below are the details of some of the activities that run from the Community Centre on a regular basis. Please check our Events Calendar to weekly changes to these programmes, specifically during school holidays, the Easter period and the leadup to Christmas.
Monday Meals
Every Monday | Drop in between 4:30pm and 8:30pm
Drop in any time for some soup and a toastie, to build friendships, encourage one another, and bring our community together. As we share dinner together, we are able to meet a practical need, while building friendships, encouraging one another, and bringing our community together.
Last Monday of the month | 6pm onwards
On the last Monday of the month we share a sit down meal together and get to know one another.
Tods
Every Wednesday | 9:30am to 11:30am
Tods meets once a week (term time only) and children aged 0-4 are welcome with parents or carers. Sessions involve free play, a craft activity, songs, stories, snacks for the children, tea, friendship, and a chance to share experiences with the adults.
Our times together have been invaluable for the well-being of the children and carers, especially after the lockdown social isolation and its effect on young children’s development and social interaction.
Connections Café
Every Thursday | 1pm to 3pm
Every Thursday we set up a café, open to all! Come along and treat yourself to a hot drink, homemade cake, and a chance to connect with others. Bring along your craft projects (quilting, painting, crocheting, clay etc) to do with company around. No cost involved but donations are welcome.
Saturday Surplus
Every Saturday | 2pm to 3.30pm
On Saturdays, we set up a café, open to all, where we share surplus food, including non-perishables and fresh fruit and vegetables. Each week we see between 30 and 40 households pop into our Saturday Surplus Café. Our team of volunteers is also able to supply emergency food parcel deliveries.
For youth & children
We run a range of programs for children and youth at the Community Centre and other locations. For more information on our activities for young people, click the links below.
“St Mary’s Community Centre is a welcoming place for people to feel supported and cared for, and the using up of surplus food means we are all doing our bit for our community and the environment. Plus we get to eat cake together.”
SMB Member