About us

Exterior view of the old site in Bath Place

Bath Place Community Venture is a charity located at the heart of the South Leamington community since 1974. Our aim is to enable local people to gain access to facilities, support, information and education. We seek to empower people who, because of poverty and/or prejudice, are denied participation and power elsewhere.

The Venture was established in 1974 by a group of people who wanted to create a community facility in South Leamington. The closure of All Saints Primary School in 1973 provided a building that could be used, but this was proposed for demolition, by the Borough Council's Planning and Public Works Committee. A project group of 25 members, along with other supporters from the local community and tradespeople persuaded the Borough Council to reconsider their plans. Initially, the council granted only a one year lease. Once permission was given to hand over use of the building to the newly formed management group, projects were very quickly set up in the new Bath Place Community Venture.

View of the interior of the old site after the fire

On 24th September 2009, a devastating fire broke out in the Bath Place building, only days before celebrations were due to mark the old school building's 150th anniversary and 35 years as a community organisation. The impact of this tragedy was to leave the charity homeless.

The District Council generously provided temporary office space at Court Street Creative Arches, enabling the Venture to re-group and make plans for the future.

Exterior view of the Old Library in Avenue Road

Following this, Warwickshire College granted Bath Place Community Venture the use of the former Leamington Spa Library on Avenue Road. This has enabled this building to return to community use and provided the Community Venture with extensive facilities for all its activities. The Old Library had been empty for a number of years and when the keys were handed over in mid-October the support of local businesses, together with volunteers of all ages and backgrounds, was needed to carry out major refurbishments.

The Old Library provides massive scope to offer additional services to people from throughout the community. With Yoga, Martial Arts, Music/Art/Drama groups, English language courses and a number of organisations such as MIND, Pertemps, The Probation Service and the Mediation and Community Support Service (MACS) alongside the Veggie Table Cafe already using the facilities there is still plenty of room for growth.

The process to ensure Bath Place Community Venture can continue within the current venue is well underway and the future looks bright, but we do need support from the community and local businesses. As with all charities we rely on the kind donations from people in our community. You can donate to Bath Place Community Venture through www.justgiving.com/bathplace which ensures your money is going to benefit those in your neighbourhood.