- Introduction
A “Thinking Day” was held at the Club House, Shopwyke Lakes on 4th December 2024, 12:00 – 8:00pm.
Four key questions provided a structured opportunity for members of the community to see the completed space and reflect on how it could be used.
Members of the Chichester Community Development Trust (CCDT) team were on hand to meet attendees, explain the aim of the day, provide a tour of the building and guide through the flip chart questions.
- Background to The Club House
The Club House was built in 2023/24 by Cala Homes as part of the Section 106 Planning Application for the Shopwyke Lakes development (Appendix 1).
Building ownership and management will be transferred to Chichester Community Development via Hanbury Properties during Spring 2025 as part of the Section 106 Planning obligation with WSCC and CDC.
This will be for the Club House only as the sports pitches are not ready. Once the pitches are ready Hanbury will transfer the pitches to CCDT, expected Autumn 2025.
CCDT held the Thinking Day to gather information prior to taking over the venue.
- Structure of the Thinking Day
A simple drop in event with a tour offered of the building’s main space and sports changing facilities.
Four questions defined the journey through the building with everyone encouraged to write their thoughts on the Flip Chart paper around the outside of the room.
The four questions:
- What would you like to see happen in this space? Who or what organisations do you think should work here?
- How should or could local people use this space?
- How can The Club House benefit the wider Chichester community?
- Is there anything else you would like to comment about The Club House and how it can be better used to support the community?
Additional page added for:
- Any Other Questions / Thoughts
- Online Questionnaire
An online questionnaire (Appendix 2) was created for those people who couldn’t make it on the day or didn’t hear about it in time.
- Marketing the Event
The event was marketed through:
- A5 Postcard size flyer delivered to Shopwyke Lakes residents (Appendix 3) w/c 11th November.
- Posts on the Shopwyke Lakes Community Facebook Group.
- Email communication to Shopwyke Lakes Residents Association and Oving Parish Residents Association requesting them to share the information with residents. Sent during Oct and Nov.
- A5 Leaflets available at the Oving Parish Neighbourhood Plan Meeting.
- Chichester Community Development Trust (CCDT) Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Newsletter.
- Event advertised on local V2 Radio Website and App.
- Event advertised on Chichester Observer What’s On Page.
- Target Audience:
The target audience for this event was everyone interested, particularly:
- Residents
- Local voluntary sector organisations
- Local families
- Attendance
Around 70 members of the community visited during the day.
The online survey had 16 responses.
- Evaluation
The views of attendees are shown below. Tally refers to the number of people who have the same view.
Instead of writing the same opinion multiple times, people were encouraged to place a tick next to any existing ideas written on the Flip Chart pads that they agreed with, as well as writing their own viewpoints.
Question 1: What would you like to see happen in this space? Who or what organisations do you think should work here?
| Thoughts | Tally |
| Sports Classes/ Fitness Groups | 14 |
| Yoga/Pilates Classes | 11 |
| Dance and Fitness groups | 10 |
| Kid’s Party Hire | 9 |
| Adult Mental Health Groups | 7 |
| Preschool/Nursery for local families | 6 |
| Playground/Children’s clubs | 5 |
| Tabletop Sales | 5 |
| Access for Charitable Organisations | 5 |
| Rainbow, Brownie, Scout and Guide Groups | 4 |
| Choir Groups | 4 |
| Meeting Space for Housing/Residents Committees | 5 |
| Youth Club | 4 |
| Home Education Groups | 2 |
| Easy Booking System | 2 |
| Community Groups | 1 |
| Children’s Contact Centre | 1 |
| Affordable Rent | 1 |
| Rentable Space of Art Classes | 1 |
| Zumba/Dance Classes | 1 |
| Collection Point for Olio | 1 |
| Advice Centre | 1 |
| Tea/Club House for All Ages | 1 |
Question 2: How should or could local people use this space?
| Thoughts | Tally |
| Range of Sports | 11 |
| Children’s Birthday Parties | 11 |
| Cricket nets | 4 |
| Dog Free | 4 |
| Football | 4 |
| Family Support Groups | 4 |
| Short Mat Bowls | 2 |
| Community Garden | 2 |
| Day/Evening Split | 2 |
| Park Run | 1 |
| Special Needs Family Meet ups | 1 |
| Community Coffee Machines | 1 |
Question 3: How can The Club House benefit the wider Chichester community?
| Thoughts | Tally |
| Fund raising for local charities | 10 |
| Central meeting places | 7 |
| Venue for Existing groups | 7 |
| Bring people together | 6 |
| Wedding venue hire | 6 |
| Connecting with local clubs | 5 |
| Use for celebrations such as Christmas | 4 |
Question 4: Is there anything else you would like to comment about The Club House and how it can be better used to support the community?
| Thoughts | Tally |
| Outside wooden tables | 12 |
| Quiz Nights | 10 |
| Dance classes for both children and adults | 10 |
| Rent out for craft fairs and art classes | 9 |
| Book Club | 9 |
| Cafe + food space | 8 |
| Cafe facility for parents of young children using the play area | 5 |
| Bar, drinks, socialising for residents | 5 |
| Mental health and wellbeing support | 5 |
| Tables, chairs, kitchen equipment | 4 |
| Fitness | 4 |
| Picnic space | 3 |
| Improved outdoor area between building and play area | 3 |
| Summer fete | 3 |
| Baby/ tots groups | 3 |
| Charity showcase | 2 |
| Second hand baby clothes / toy sales | 2 |
| Scouts | 2 |
| Upstairs meeting space | 2 |
| Weekend private hire events | 1 |
| Obtain licence for alcohol | 1 |
| Have lots of available equipment | 1 |
| Bouncy castle | 1 |
Additional Comments and Questions
| Thoughts | Tally |
| Rubbish bins all around | 4 |
| CCTV | 4 |
| Baby change facilities | 3 |
| WIFI | 3 |
| Ball stop for adult cricket | 2 |
| Notice Board | 1 |
| Centre manager | 1 |
| Fence around field and bollards for grounds security | 1 |
| Basketball court | 1 |
| LAN Parties | 1 |
- Next Steps – Taking Ownership of the Building
The Chichester Community Development Trust (CCDT) will use the information in this Report to evaluate all options for the long-term use of the Club House, within the confines of the Section 106 Planning Agreement (Appendix 1), CCDT Charitable Aims and Social Impact Strategy.
Building ownership and management will be transferred to Chichester Community Development via Hanbury Properties during Spring 2025 as part of the Section 106 Planning obligation with WSCC and CDC.
This will be for the Club House only as the sports pitches are not ready.
Hanbury will transfer the pitches to CCDT in Autumn 2025.
CCDT held the Thinking Day to gather information prior to taking over the venue.
- Community Activities in the Interim
In the interim period, there are some ideas that were suggested that could be set up by CCDT if there is the appetite for it.
At the Chichester Bike Project opposite, there is a Community Hub Meeting Room which can seat 16 people. This would be perfect to host a book club, adult mental health groups, art class, social isolation meet up. See Appendix 4 for images.
If you are interested in getting involved, please email our Community Organiser on: community@chichestercdt.org.uk
APPENDIX
Appendix 1 – All Planning Documents and Section 106 Planning Application
https://chichestercdt.org.uk/venues-for-hire/the-club-house/
Appendix 2 – Link to Online Questionnaire
https://forms.gle/vQy1vfELgdCjcaSo7
Appendix 3 – Image of Leaflet
Appendix 4: Image of the Community Hub Meeting Room @ The Chichester Bike Project
This can be booked via The Chichester Bike Project website > Community Hub
https://chichesterbikeproject.com/community-hub/
