About Us
The Abbey Centre is more than just a conveniently located (and competitively priced) venue for meetings and conferences. We're also a vibrant community centre, providing a welcoming space for residents of South Westminster to come for healthy exercise and educational, cultural and social activities. By hiring our meeting and conference rooms, you help support this vital community service. To help even more, volunteer for a CSR project.
To reflect London's rich history of social activism, we've decided to re-name The Abbey Centre's rooms in honour of social reformers who championed the rights of London's marginalised and disadvantaged people. We aim to carry on their work: to serve local residents and bring together our diverse community.
Lick of paint appeal
You should soon see some big changes at The Abbey Centre. We've just set up a capital fund called the 'Lick Of Paint' Appeal, to help refresh and refurbish the centre for everyone.
To support the appeal, we're adding a £1 discretionary donation to our room hire invoices. We greatly appreciate all our conference clients, whose room hire directly supports our vital community hub.
You can also support our appeal by arranging a CSR day where your team helps with painting, cleaning, garden maintenance or other activities. And you can always add your change to our donation tin when you order a tasty lunch in The Wash House Cafe. If you'd like to offer a larger donation or organise a CSR day, please speak with Emma Wilson, our Chief Executive on 020 7227 0651.
Thank you very much!
Making a Difference
For over 60 years, our vibrant community centre has been bringing people together in the heart of historic Westminster. Our inclusive centre welcomes lifelong Westminster residents and those who've recently arrived in the area. Members represent a range of cultures: English, Scottish, Welsh, Spanish, Portuguese, Bangladeshi, African, Arab, Bosnian, Herzegovinian, Chinese and more. The Abbey Centre celebrates this diversity – and helps bring everyone together.
The Abbey Community Association was originally formed in July 1948 to build on the sense of community that emerged during the Second World War. In 1992 The Abbey Centre moved to The Old Wash House & Baths in Great Smith Street, the site of Westminster's first public baths and wash house. In those days locals came to bath and enjoy a dip in the fantastic pool built in 1850. Last year 18,875 people attended regular activities here, with 1,559 attending one-off events. The pool is long gone, but visitors can still admire Henry Poole's handsome sculpted bathers on the building's facade.
The Team
The Abbey Centre is all about people, so it's no surprise we have a friendly and dedicated team.
- Vision: To be the vibrant, healthy heart of Westminster
- Mission: To improve the lives, health and opportunities of the people of South Westminster
The Board
The Abbey Centre Board of Trustees
Our board of trustees include centre users and local residents and bring a range of important skills, experience and expertise to help the Centre run smoothly. Meet our board members.
The place for CSR
When you think of CSR, think of The Abbey Centre. Booking your meeting or conference here ticks your CSR box: all proceeds support our vibrant community centre, helping older people stay engaged with life and encouraging recent immigrants to feel included in the local community.
Of course we're always pleased to receive donations, and you can even go a step further: let your staff donate their time, skills and energy to making The Abbey Centre an even better place for Westminster community residents.