1981

Tandridge Phab

The roots of the Bletchingley Skills Centre can be found in the Tandridge Phab Club which was founded by Diane Francis back in 1981. Phab (Physically Handicapped Able Bodied) was a national charity that encouraged both able bodied and disabled people to mix and to promote self confidence.

1987-1989

Grass roots

The growing success of the Phab club meetings and the outings and activities, highlighted the need for a regular meeting place. This prompted Maureen Burbidge, a member of Tandridge Phab, to raise this issue with Limpsfield Church community. Shelia Mayo, the Vicar’s wife then took it upon herself to start fundraising . Shelia was running Grass Roots, a DHSS sponsored project to encourage young, unemployed people to participate in local community projects. In 1987 the first Portakabin was bought. This was used to accommodate the Grass Roots Project and as both a drop in Centre for the disabled and to house the local Disabled Information Advice Line (DIAL) Although Grass Roots was run independently of Phab, the two organisations maintained very close ties.

1989-2019

The Skills Centre Is Born!

In 1989 it was decided to start providing adult education classes for the disabled. Run by Moti Fendell, the drop in Centre became a classroom with a small kitchen area, and two Amstrad computers. Classes were held three days a week during term time. The official opening took place on 29th June 1989, with a star cast of Judi Dench, her husband Michael Williams and Richard Stilgoe.

In 1991 the Centre became a registered charity, with the name Skills for People Centre. Wendy Cope who had been running Phab took on the full time job of running the Centre. In 1992 it changed it’s name to Bletchingley Skills Centre. By 1993, due to the popularity of the courses conditions were getting a bit cramped. John Barber, the president of the Caterham Harestone Rotary Club, having seen the situation decided to make the Centre the Rotary’s major project for the year. Their first venture was to refurbish the kitchen. They then prepared the foundations for, and delivery and citing of, an additional Portakabin. This then provided a second classroom.

This increase in space allowed the expansion of courses offered including, Microwave Cookery, Computers, Word Processing, Yoga, Bridge and even Spanish!

2019-

A New era..

In 2019 we entered our 30th year! Despite the loss of our grant from Surrey County Council in 2017 , our main source of funding, we are continuing to grow. We face challenging times, and have over the past few years responded in a flexible way. We are regularly assessing the needs of disabled people and have embraced a holistic approach in order to stay relevant. Our seated Yoga, mindfulness colouring and Drama courses reflect this, and are proving to be very popular. New courses are being developed with Music an addition we are seeking to make along with a Makaton course.