What is the Willowbrook Centre?

The Willowbrook Centre derives from the former Southwark Community Planning and Education Centre (SCPEC) which was formed in 1993 following a merger of the Willowbrook Urban Studies Centre and the North Southwark Community Planning Centre.

Our vision - 'to be a leading agency in Southwark for community involvement and assistance in the planning and regeneration of the Borough'

Our mission - 'to give communities a voice in urban change, and to aid their participation in decision making processes that effect their environments'

What we do

This service offers advice and assistance to agencies wishing to involve communities in built environment planning, development, and regeneration issues. It is aimed at community groups, voluntary sector organisations, forums and networks, and statutory agencies.

The Willowbrook Centre can:

• Provide information and good practice principles and examples on consultation and participation in decision making for the built environment
• Advise groups of the best ways of consulting and involving their stakeholders on built environment and regeneration issues
• Advise groups on the best ways of influencing local planning and regeneration policy
• Provide practical assistance to groups involved in consulting their stakeholders and communicating the results to the relevant authorities.
  This might include training, advocacy and representation, one-to-one support for key group members, materials, advice on funding for the process, tailor-made consultation/participation process development. Same for statutory agencies eg. councils, partnerships, management companies

Over the past 3 years we have been running community planning training programmes in each of Southwark's priority neighbourhoods.

• West Bermondsey
• East Camberwell
• South Bermondsey and North Livesey
• East Peckhma
• Nunhead