Why we exist

 

The Gap is a successful community development project, based in North Warwick, which aims to:

 

  • Support and benefit the residents of the Percy and Emscote estates, and the wider Warwick District, through providing a wide range of social facilities and support;

  • Maintain an active community centre, in partnership with a wide range of organisations, to help deliver the support the community needs.

The Gap started in 1999 when local residents got together to do something about tensions between young people and older adults in the community, and from this has developed a wide range of activities, from four nights a week youth activities, to a well-supported older adults lunch club. The Gap started life in an empty shop in the local precinct but quickly outgrew the space and then took over a derelict church hall and turned it into a lively community centre providing a wide range of facilities to attend the needs of the local community. We serve an area which has a large population of older adults as well as families and single parents, in both private and social housing. It is well used and has over 2000 regular users a month.

The Gap has also pioneered the work with fathers in Warwick and has run a successful dads club for over 5 years, this group is now run by the fathers themselves. From 2011-2014, the Gap was commissioned by the Warwick District Council to deliver services in Warwick West. This project created opportunities for many partnerships and resulted in the outcome of a successful project for NEETs (Not in Education, Employment or Training) and also Activitea (Older people’s project involving physical exercises, lunch and creative arts).

We continue to evolve and develop and our aim is to create a vibrant, happy community filled with respect, compassion and confidence, where aspirations are realised and friendships thrive.