Sandford Park Community Hub Project
A New Community Home for Cheltenham
Lives of Colour is working towards creating a vibrant, inclusive community hub in Cheltenham - a welcoming space where people of all backgrounds can connect, learn, create and belong.
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Our vision is to restore and reimagine Sandford Park Lodge (working project location) as a thriving community centre that elevates diverse cultural voices while serving the wider town. This page shares our vision, values, and progress so far.
Our Vision for the Hub
We imagine a well-used, welcoming community space that:
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Responds to the real needs of local people
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Elevates cultural and diverse voices
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Brings communities together across difference
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Supports creativity, learning, and opportunity
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The hub will be a place to meet new people, grow ideas, share stories, and build lasting connections.
Who Is the Space For?
Everyone.
Lives of Colour centres voices that have too often been underrepresented or overlooked, while creating a space that benefits the whole community and where everyone is welcome.
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By supporting minority communities and fostering conversations of colour, we help Cheltenham become more connected, compassionate, and inclusive for all.
What Will Happen in the Space?
The community hub will be a hub of opportunity, offering:
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Affordable spaces for community groups to hire
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Programmes for young people and families
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Skill-building workshops and enterprise support
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Talks, exhibitions, and cultural events​
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All activity will be shaped with and by the community.
Why This Matters
Cheltenham is rich in creativity and community spirit - but not everyone feels equally seen, heard, or welcome.
This project is about:
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Increasing representation and access
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Building trust and understanding across communities
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Creating a shared place where difference is embraced
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It’s about investing in people as much as bricks and mortar.
When will the building open?
We hope to open the building in 2027.
Reopening the building will be dependent on Lives of Colour raising the funding
needed for the building’s redevelopment.
How much will it cost?
We are working with architects, contractors and advisors to help us work out how much it will cost to renovate and reopen the building - and how much it will cost to run everything that happens inside it.
We hope to have a budget in early 2026.
Where We Are Now
We are:
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Working with advisors, architects, and partners
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Developing plans and exploring funding opportunities
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Building strong relationships with local stakeholders
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Listening to the community to shape the future of the space
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We hope to open the hub in 2027, subject to funding and approvals.
Get Involved
This project will only succeed through collaboration.
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Whether you are a community group, local business, funder, creative, volunteer, or curious neighbour, there will be opportunities to get involved.
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If you would like to send us your thoughts or questions on the project, or discuss partnering with us, email info@livesofcolour.co.uk
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