About us

Why is it called the Poppy Centre?

It is called the Poppy Centre because The Poppy Centre Trust, who fundraised and built the centre, was formed on Armistice day, 11 November 2004, Poppy is the flower associated with Norfolk, and Stalham Recreation Ground is a WW1 and WW2 memorial ground.

What does the building offer?

  • 800 m² of usable activity floor space over two floors
  • Under floor heating system allowing for a steady climate control of the building
  • A variety of rooms available for hire

Ground floor

  • Main hall, suitable for indoor sports and leisure activities, meetings, theatre, birthday parties and more, there is seating for 150 people, 12 lockable storage cupboards and a stage
  • A large kitchen, with fantastic equipment including a commercial dishwasher, fridge, freezer, induction cooker and oven, microwave, washing machine and a variety of crockery available to use.
  • Entrance area with seating including lockable office with hatch for receiving visitors
  • A platform lift for access to the first floor
  • A large drive in storage area
  • Male, female and disabled toilet facilities
  • A self contained football club area, two changing rooms with showers, benches, hooks etc
  • Linesman/referee changing/shower room
  • Male/female/disabled toilet facility
  • Lockable storage area, accessed from the exterior
  • All toilet/changing room areas have wet room floor finishes/floor drains for easy cleaning

First floor

  • Large studio room, with folding divide, including sink/tea/coffee making area
  • A large meeting room which seats 12 comfortably and has tea and coffee making facilities a sink and a fridge
  • A smaller meeting room ideal for one to one meetings
  • Multiple storage cupboards

Update from The Poppy Trust – 11 November 2021

The Stalham Poppy Centre Trustees are pleased to advise that following years of being unsuccessful in attracting new Trustees to work with the Trust, and the decision of most of the current Trustees to stand down in November, an agreement was reached with the Stalham and Brunstead Recreation Ground Charity, who manage the Recreation Ground, for them to manage and run on a day to day basis.

A handover took place on 11 November 2021, which was the 17th anniversary of when the Poppy Centre Trust was established.

All the Trustees are really pleased with this outcome and we have been assured that it will be business as usual with them as the new management.

The Charity Shop will also have completed its intended purpose, by providing fund raising for the building, additional fixtures and fittings and supporting the running costs of the building in the early years.  This will be closed at Christmas.

We thank all our customers for the support over the past 9 years – without the shop the project may not have reached completion.

Background

After more than 10 years trying on their own, the 1st Stalham Sea Scout Group agreed to the formation of The Poppy Centre Trust as it seemed a group representing several youth organisations from the community would have more success in raising funds for a replacement building than one that was just raising funds for Scouting. A committee was formed and representatives from the Scouts, Youth Football Club, Guides, Brass Band, and Town Council all voted in favour of  plans drawn up for a new building to replace the old Scout hut and take over the old footprint of the football club.

The constitution of the Poppy Centre reads:

The provision and maintenance of an amenities centre for the benefit of the inhabitants of Stalham and Happing area without distinction of political, religious or other opinions including use for meetings of youth associations and other forms of education, recreation and leisure time occupations in the interest of the social welfare of the inhabitants and with the object of improving their conditions of life.

Once established the building will provide young people with a safe, secure environment in which to meet where they can develop life and social skills, increase self-esteem, build confidence in their own abilities, express themselves and work as a team member.