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The History of the Platt Centre

In 1908, at the time of its centenary it is recorded “There is now a good work going on in the neighbourhood in connection with the Mission Hall, where not only are there various services for adults, but a good Sabbath School, Band of Hope, Bible Classes as well as a considerable amount of Social Work in the winter in the way of a Soup Kitchen where a large number of children are fed and a number of other enterprises bearing upon the Social question” (W.J. Flew, Missionary)

On 7 September 1962 it was recorded in the local press “Now we know, when the old building is finally closed for demolition in about a couple of months or so, there will be no bright new building to take its place and the work which has been going on in Putney for so many years must come to a halt”.  The Council had compulsory purchased the site.  It is written in the same article “The end of the Platt is not just the closing of a building.  It is the tragic end to a love story”.  However, in 1963 a group of people purchased the land previously bought by the City Mission – where the current Platt Christian Centre stands – and they built a one storey building to continue the work of the Mission.  

By 1988 the congregation had dwindled and the Trustees asked the Shaftesbury Society to become a Trustee and they knocked down the old building and replaced it with the Centre as it is today.  The selling off of the two flats to a housing association covered the costs of building the Centre, along with £40,000 which was fundraised by the Shaftesbury Society.  The total cost being £235,000.

A new Church was formed in the new Centre under the Pioneer group of Churches where a new Sunday School began, youth clubs were held twice a week and a variety of community projects took place.  At the same time, the Shaftesbury Society took over the management of the Robert Joy Day Centre which provided social activities for older people.  In 2005 the Robert Joy Day Centre closed and Regenerate-RISE took over the management of the Platt Christian Centre and provided day services for older people across SW15.  In 2007 The Shaftesbury Society and John Grooms merged to become Livability and as one of Livability’s Church links, Regenerate-RISE  continued to provide a Centre with both day and outreach services for older people that has also had a strong intergenerational influence.  Many local people, Churches and groups have used the Centre on a regular basis.

Regenerate-RISE were working in partnership with Livability with their full agreement towards their plans to build a 10 bed Reablement Unit for older people on discharge from hospital.  Following a change in leadership at Livability, their strategy has changed and the Platt Centre is no longer one of their link Churches and the partnership has come to an end.  The property was transferred to the Shaftesbury Development Fund.  However, Regenerate-RISE was able to purchase the Platt Mission in November 2020 to continue its work across SW15 and RISE will do its utmost to ensure that this is not another “tragic end to a love story” but a new beginning that will bring about a new story that will touch the lives of thousands of older people across South West London.  Regenerate-RISE now has plans to build a 12 bed Reablement Unit and is currently pursuing planning permission.

Activity Kits for Everyone

RISE has concentrated on providing activities for older people to do at home and we have put together a kit that includes a variety of crafts along with a word search or crossword book.  Since our first Activity Kit we have added Jigsaws and Painting By Numbers as well as colouring blocks with good pens in order that people can hang their picture on the wall.

The Knitting Kit is also an important part of the activity as we are knitting for children in Romania.  This is some of the children’s sweaters that will be going on the next trip.

The Challenge of the Coronavirus Crisis

There is no doubt that the challenge of the Coronavirus has changed the world significantly and particularly the lives of those who are most vulnerable, the older people who live in our communities.

Regenerate-RISE has dedicated two trees outside the Platt Centre to all the key workers who have committed their time to helping those with Covid-19 or at risk of Covid-19.  Cards are hung on the tree with the photographs of people who have worked hard to improve the lives of those who are currently suffering.  If you would like to add someone you know to our tree, then please bring a photograph to the Centre and we will add them to the tree.  At night time rainbow lights are switched on to remind us all of the care and love that each key worker gives to their family, friends and patients.

In the midst of this pandemic, Regenerate-RISE would like to purchase the Platt Centre in order that we can have a secure base to continue our work and build our new 10 bed Reablement Unit.  We have been given the deadline of 30 September by which to exchange contracts and together all involved are doing their best to achieve this deadline.

If you would like to donate towards the work of Regenerate-RISE and specifically to the purchasing of the Platt Centre, please go to the link below:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/theplattcentre

We aim to connect with the isolated elderly

Regenerate-RISE began as a new organisation in 2005 although RISE began under Regenerate.com in the year 2001.  It has always been our intention to reach those who are feeling isolated and would appreciate social interaction.  It wasn’t long after we started, that we realised that many of those who were isolated also had disabilities and our transport provides a vital link to get people out of the house and into the community.  It was also considered important to take people out of the area on trips to garden centres, pubs and places of interest, provide lunches and extra support.  Over the years we have helped people in a great variety of ways which include hospital visiting, or attending appointments, moving into sheltered housing, claiming benefits, moving into care homes or providing the extra support that sometimes everybody needs.

For 15 years we worked in partnership with Livability as the Platt Christian Centre was one of their Church links, but sadly the charity is now going in a different direction and they brought the partnership to an end.  We do work closely with Hillsong and their Surrey Church has been a tremendous help during the Covid-19 crisis with the provision of food on a fortnightly basis for our Supply Bags.   We have developed our work in Battersea and work in partnership with St Michael’s C of E Church and hire their premises as well as benefit from regular visits by the Vicar, Rev Tif Ewins.  Many volunteers have come through St Michael’s and they have been a tremendous help throughout the last six months.

We have provided 188 Activity Kits to individuals who would like something creative to do whilst at home.  These included therapy colouring books and pens, pottery items to paint, suncatchers for their windows, a word search book, scratch art or jigsaws/painting by numbers.  It is great to know that people have found new talents and new hobbies during a time of crisis.  We are looking forward to continuing with these hobbies once we return to the Centre.  Currently we are looking at ensuring that “outreach” is high on our agenda as even whilst the country is opening up for people to go out, many older people with disabilities are still confined to home for the majority of the time.