COMMUNITY GROUPS & VENUES
Buckingham is well-served by community groups and organisations, catering for almost every need. Whatever your interest or concern, Buckingham is almost certain to have a group catering to you. If you are planning an event, Buckingham has a fantastic selection of venues available.
VENUES
The Community Association manages the Community Centre. They have two halls for hire. The Centre is open seven days a week providing many activities and events.
Address: Buckingham, MK18 1RP
Email: buckingham@bcommunitycentre.plus.com
Phone: 01280 823584
The Old Gaol
The Old Gaol is a unique and historic venue available for any event. The exercise yard can seat up to 60 people, if covered by a glass roof and has kitchen facilities. Tables and chairs can be provided.
Address: Market Hill, Buckingham, MK18 1JX
Email: info@buckinghamoldgaol.org.uk
Phone: 01280 823020
The Cote, Woolpack
The Cote is the perfect venue for birthday parties, christenings, wakes and any other parties or gatherings. The hire price is £150 per half day or evening. Should you wish to chose food from one of their simple but delicious buffet menus the room hire price is discounted to £100 (minimum food spend £150).
Address: Well Street, Buckingham, MK18 1EP
Email: mail@buckinghamwoolpack.co.uk
Phone: 01280 817972
Lace Hill Sports & Community Centre is a welcoming facility situated on the Lace Hill estate in Buckingham, owned and operated by Buckingham Town Council.
Affordable venue hire, including a Sports Hall, and a Committee Room, that are suitable to host a range of activities from exercise, community groups, events, meetings and private functions.
The Centre is open 9am – 3pm Monday to Friday and is available to hire every day of the week. There are lots of weekly activities suitable for all ages, to view a current timetable please visit the webpage.
To simply make a booking or enquire about hiring this venue please contact the coordinator on 01280 812 872 or email: lacehillcentre@buckingham-tc.gov.uk
If you would like to stay up-to-date with news and events, you can follow them on Facebook and Instagram @lacehillcentre
Embleton Way Scout Hut
A large, spacious hall for up 80 people. Later, we hope to have other, smaller meeting rooms available to hire. Kitchen fitted with an oven, hob, fridge and dishwasher. Cutlery, utensils and crockery are available. The centre has off street parking for 25 cars. Hassle free, convenient parking for your guests.
Address: Embleton Way Scout and Community Centre. 53 Embleton Way, Buckingham. MK18 1FJ.
Council Chamber
The Council Chamber is a small room which is suitable for small meetings. The room holds a capacity of 25 people (17 around the table) on ground floor level. There are kitchen and toilet facilities available.
Address: Cornwalls Meadow, Buckingham, MK18 1RP
Email: office@buckingham-tc.gov.uk
Phone: 01280 816 426
Villiers Hotel run several different spaces that are available for hire.
Address: 3 Castle St, Buckingham MK18 1BS
Email:Reservations@villiershotels.com
Phone: 01280 822444
COMMUNITY GROUPS
Buckingham Summer Festival
The Buckingham Summer Festival was founded in 1989 by the late Professor Alan Brook MBE and Artistic Director Robert Secret ARAM. Over the years it has brought top quality musical performers to the town and has become an eagerly anticipated part of the summer's activities and an important cultural event in the Aylesbury Vale area. The Festival is a registered charity and relies entirely on volunteer effort, local sponsorship, individual donations and grants.
Buckingham Literary Festival
The Buckingham Literary Festival is for readers and writers, listeners and talkers. Offering a blend of talks, discussions, poetry, film and theatre our community festival brings an exciting mix of cultural events to this ancient market town.
The Buckingham Literary Festival is a not-for-profit organisation, run by volunteers and responsible for generating sufficient funds to cover all costs.
Bafa
Bafa - which stands for Buckingham Art For All - aims to:
-Nurture our members with constant encouragement
-Create an environment where it is safe to seek help from other members
-Where constructive criticism is offered not belittlement, whatever the standard
-Share our expertise by helping others.
Men In Sheds
Men In Sheds is a social group where men can be productive, socialise and be part of their local community. Activities include woodwork, metal work, electronics, weaving, computing and digital photography.
The Shed facility provides a venue to share those life experiences in a more relaxed environment.
The Old Gaolers Drama Group
The Old Gaolers Drama Group has produced over 100 plays for audiences in Buckingham and beyond over the past four decades. These have ranged from comedies and thrillers to challenging dramas, costume classics and full-scale musicals. We have also supported the Buckingham Community Pantomime and participated in many other town events.
The Film Place
The Film Place is an independent, part-time community cinema. It is a not-for-profit charitable company, run by volunteers.
We screen films twice a week (normally on Fridays and Saturdays) in the large lecture theatre at the University of Buckingham’s Chandos Road Building. We are indebted to the University for the use of these premises. Since opening in November 2005, we have screened over 1000 films to over 30,000 people.
The Buckingham Society is made up of volunteers who care passionately about our surroundings and campaign to enhance and improve Buckingham. Members of The Buckingham Society share common aims:
Promote the distinctive character of our town
Set high standards of design and sustainability
Celebrate and safeguard Buckingham’s heritage
Find solutions to environmental problems
Improve the quality of life in our community
Inspire sensitive changes within the places we cherish
Create and consolidate effective partnerships between community, business and local government.
3rd Buckingham Scouts
When you join the Scout Movement, you will not only join the 3rd Buckingham Scout Group, but the Free Worlds largest and most progressive uniformed youth movement. There are over 17 million members of the Scout Movement around the world, coming from many different religious faiths and many different walks of life.
The aim of the Scout Association is to encourage the physical, mental and spiritual development of young people so that they may take a constructive place in society. Scouting tries to achieve this by providing an enjoyable and attractive scheme of progressive training, based upon the Scout Promise and Law. The activities and training (offered by Scouting) are guided by adult leadership.
Through the adventure of Scouting young people get to try exciting activities in a safe environment and have their first taste of responsibility. We give young people experiences they will never forget. The sort of adventure we offer is the chance to experience something different and the opportunity for young people to discover their potential. When a Beaver Scout wakes up the morning after a sleepover, or a Cub Scout has just overcome his fear of heights by completing their first abseil or a Scout is selected to attend a World Jamboree that's adventure.
Here at 3rd Buckingham, we have approximately 100 young people in the group and we are part of the Buckingham and Winslow District.
Friends of Buckingham University
Members meet regularly throughout the year to enjoy a programme of events such as the members’ monthly lunch, tours, concerts, Strawberry and Pimms evening, concerts, barbeques, the members’ annual dinner, quiz nights and more.
Members receive invitations to public lectures hosted by the University, often given by experts in their field. Affiliation to a number of Buckingham cultural associations provides Friends members with invitations to orchestral performances, often at discounted rates, and to the Buckingham Literary Festival, Buckingham Summer Festival and other prestidgious Buckingham area events through the year. In addition, Friends members enjoy a range of University related benefits.
The Friends, through modest membership fees, events and donations raise funds that help the purchase of amenities and support student physical and mental well-being whilst at the University, the ‘Home of the Two Year Degree’.
Membership of The Friends is open to anyone with an interest in supporting the University. To find out how to be a part of the thriving Friends community of members - Membership — Home (friendsuob.uk)
Buckingham Community Pantomime
Buckingham Community Pantomime has been delighting audiences for over 33 years. A production involves a cast and crew of over 100 made up of a wide variety of people drawn from all parts of the town, ranging from raw beginners to budding stars on stage and a production crew of enthusiastic volunteers from all walks of life. Some have been involved for many years but each year brings a crop of new faces eager to join the fun.
The Community Pantomime has become an essential highlight of the town's social calendar. Profits from each production are distributed to local projects: Buckingham Hospital, Project Street Life, Buckingham Guides to name but a few but a few have all benefited from the Pantomime.
The Old Gaol Trust & Friends of The Old Gaol
The Buckingham Old Gaol Trust maintains both our iconic building and the Museum that it contains. Buckingham Old Gaol is a Grade 2* listed building and In common with all old buildings (and the Old Gaol was built in 1748), the building fabric is costly to maintain. Buckingham Old Gaol Trust is a registered charity (number 292807). The building, and the Museum, are managed by hard-working volunteers drawn from the Trust membership. All monies received, whether it be Trust membership fees, hire charges, donations or grants, goes towards maintaining a facility that plays an increasingly pivotal role in the local community.
The Friends of the Old Gaol put on numerous events throughout the year to raise money for the museum.
Youth Council
Buckingham Town Youth Council (BTYC) was started in 2011 by Buckingham Town Council. It is a non-political, independent group of young people who meet to organise events and discuss issues that are important to the youth of Buckingham.
