As Henrik Ibsen once wrote: “A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm.”

Therefore this month two local residents have taken the helm at On The Hill to show our support for the incredible work that the Primrose Hill Community Association does for us all. For over forty years the PHCA has been at the centre of our vibrant community, running the Community Centre, supporting local residents and groups, as well as leading the campaign to save our Library.

There are well over 10,000 village halls and community centres across England, and each one of them plays a vital role in bringing cohesion to the communities they serve.

Ours is located in the Old Piano Factory in Hopkinson’s Place – just off Fitzroy Road, and has made itself the launch pad for so much that happens in and around Primrose Hill. It provides a range of activities for all ages, from Ready-Steady-Go nursery and Rhyme Time for young children, to over 60s Keep Fit; there is also yoga, Narcotics Anonymous, and our magnificent local choir.

The Community Centre is where many go to vote for local and general elections, or it’s just a place to hang out and shoot a game of pool. It also reaches out to the wider community by offering a Lunch Club at the Oldfield Estate, a series of weekly Open House events, and the annual Summer Fair.

Primrose Hill Community Association has now bought a 25-year lease from Camden Council, thereby securing the long-term future of the Community Centre. Over the coming months, they will be fundraising for this cause by asking residents for donations. It’s ‘Hall or Nothing’, so please do all you can to help keep this vital community hub running for the benefit of all.

Read about the Primrose Hill Community Association Lease Appeal here.

Dermot O’Leary and William Miller

Photo credit: Sarah Louise Ramsay