3 THE PROPOSED EEL PIE CENTRE

3.1  THE CONCEPT

3.2  FOR WHOM?

3.3  TYPICAL ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS

3.3.1  Informal activities

3.3.2  Planned events and activities

3.3.3  Income-generating activities

3.3.4  Supporting activities

3 THE PROPOSED EEL PIE CENTRE

The rest of this report is concerned exclusively with the proposal for the Eel Pie Centre. It will describe the working party's vision of the Centre, and explore its desirability, feasibility and benefits.

3.1 THE CONCEPT

The Eel Pie Centre integrates distinct, but mutually supportive activities:

A Riverside/Heritage Discovery Centre that has hands-on displays and projects about the Thames and the local environment.

An Arts facility with a performance space which provides for a wide range of music and dance activities, and small-scale theatrical performances

A Commercial core that has a café, displays by local artists and an arts and craft shop, plus a souvenir shop.

The LBRuT Tourist Information Centre which will provide much greater assistance to tourists than is available at present and provide a "desk" to help manage the activities of the Eel Pie Centre.

Figure 2 - The Integrated Centre Concept

Figure 2: Centre concept

3.2 FOR WHOM?

The catchment area on a daily basis is Twickenham and its hinterland. Residents of all age groups will use the Centre in a variety of ways.

Throughout the year it is estimated there are 50,000 tourists visiting Twickenham and a further 500,000 attending rugby matches. A significant number of these could be interested in a novel and interesting Centre.

3.3 TYPICAL ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS

Activities of the Centre may be classed as either informal or planned.

Informal activities appeal to "drop-in" customers, who are looking on the spur of the moment for something pleasant to do. Normal commercial considerations suggest that opportunities for these customers need to be easily visible and accessible. By contrast, customers for planned events are going to come to the Centre and the precise location of the event within the Centre is of secondary interest. Such customers, however, will expect good supporting services, e.g., bar or café. Thus consideration of the types of activities and events affects the design of the Centre.

The programme must be sufficiently varied for residents to make repeated visits throughout the year. It must be balanced to appeal to all ages from pre-school to Third Age. It must also link with the programmes of other local groups to help provide an integrated life-long learning programme.

The overall balance of planned and informal activities must make good commercial sense. Income-generating activities are identified below. Pricing structures that encourage a diversity of visitors in sufficient numbers to ensure a profitable operation will form part of the business plan.

3.3.1 Informal activities

Mainly in the foyer

A centre of social activity, a lively spot to drop into for a variety of reasons:

To have a drink and chat at the juice bar - open in the evening as well as during the day
Look at the current display of art & crafts. A local artist for a specified period, changing regularly to encourage repeat visits
Listen to the music as, for example, in the foyer of the National Theatre
Tourist information and booking:
	Pamphlets etc.
	Book local events, hotels, walks, boat trips etc.
	Guided walks
	Boat hire
Notices of forthcoming riverside related events such as swan upping or the Great River Race, and tidal information
Notices of events organised by local societies and contact details
Assembly point for riverside events, e.g. Twickenham Regatta, and more generally a link to river activities
Entry point for the Health & Fitness Centre.

The Discovery Centre

Family and individual visits to engage with the exhibits. Charging regime to encourage repeat and frequent visits by locals. Design and layout of the exhibits to attract people into the Centre
Family and individual visits to seek current information about:
	Local environment; birds, fishes, ecology, etc.
	Close-up views of the local environment and panoramas through link with the Twickenham Tower or periscope
	Tidal patterns and predictions
	Details about river-related clubs and environmental groups; activities and how to join
	River history

Relax and spend time

The café/bar with river views. A good place to start the day before a walk, to sit and watch the passing scene, to relax before, during and after a show in the performance space

The upmarket art/craft shop

3.3.2 Planned events and activities

The programme of the Centre will reflect current demand, fashion and opportunities for fundraising, but at any given time, it will have a mix of activities which will have a wide appeal. It will have permanent and changing elements within a clearly set out programming policy.

The content should:

Reflect, but not be dominated by, National Curriculum attainment targets and programmes of study

Be cross-curricula and foster literacy and numeracy skills as well as creativity/imagination

Appeal to adults who may appreciate the opportunity to learn in a relaxed environment and an informal way

Include sensory experiences and provide accessible opportunities for children and adults with disabilities

Address the needs and interests of young people

Fit well with Third Age programmes for mature individuals

Link with the programmes of local specialist groups and educational centres.

Representative activities and events will include:

Schools

River-related and environmental projects in the Discovery Centre/performance space

Creative Arts projects in the Arts Facility

Rehearsals and plays in the performance space

Working with the exhibits in the Discovery Centre facilitated by Centre staff

Outreach projects based on the Discovery Centre

Projects based on the Discovery Centre carried out by boat

A small garden project to illustrate the principles of sustainability.

Out of school and pre-school

Regular parent/toddler sessions

Saturday Club and Holiday Club associated with the Discovery Centre or the Arts Facility or both

Teenage Homework Club (seminar/workshop). There is recognised national need for additional places for children to do their homework, especially project-related work. This may encourage more young people to take up science.

After school workshops.

Seminars & workshops

Target audiences to include teenagers, local special interest groups and Third Age.

Special performance-based workshops/events in the Discovery Centre and Arts Facility

Workshops and classes enabling people to take part in and learn about a whole range of arts and science activities, e.g., dance, music, visual arts and crafts, creative writing, ecology, workings of the river, local culture, etc.

Summer Schools and events associated with local Festivals and other Twickenham/river events.

Music & Dance

Chamber music, jazz and small pop groups. Mainly in the performance space, but also in the foyer

Dance performances

Participatory dances; tea dances, line dancing, etc.

Stage & screen

Rehearsal space

Small-scale productions

DVD and video projections to support seminars and maybe a film club

Link with the puppet theatre on the river.

Room hire

Discovery Centres are interesting and unusual places for receptions and birthday parties

Corporate seminars, presentations and receptions

Recreational activities e.g., yoga classes

Meeting place for local groups.

Links with local organisations

Work closely with Orleans House Gallery and Twickenham Museum to develop links with local schools. Possibly, a Community Education Officer could be appointed to work with all three venues

Joint ticketing with other ventures or with boat hire companies and developing on the present Leisure Card

Many of the river-related organisations will see the Centre as a natural local base

Provide an occasional base for regional groups and organisations, such as the Environmental Agency, PLA, River Thames Society and arts organisations.

3.3.3 Income-generating activities

The most important sources of income from the above activities are:

The café/bar

Shops

Discovery Centre

Arts events; dances performances and concerts

Hire of rooms for receptions and parties

There will also be income, but on a lesser scale from:

Charges to local groups for use of facilities

Schools and school projects

Homework Clubs

Some of these activities may attract Government grants.

3.3.4 Supporting activities

The commercial viability of the Centre will require the support of volunteer and part-time workers. These workers will be drawn from a wide cross-section of the local population. Young people will be able to act as assistants and guides in the Discovery Centre and assist the running of events in the performance space. Older people will be able to contribute their expertise for planning and organising in the Discovery Centre and Arts Facility and in management and fundraising for the Centre.

For each activity and event there will be those who go to enjoy it and those who go to make it happen. In short, it is a Centre for the community, but not a Community Centre as that term is generally understood.