South Oxford Community Centre

We now have monthly newsletters. Would like it hot off the press direct to your inbox at the beginning of the month? Then join as a member of the South Oxford Community Association. Contact Debby in the office for more details or to join.

The latest information on the return of students from Oxford City Council

Request from local resident;

"Dear Grandpont friends & neighbours, As you may have heard, Grandpont postman Steve Johnson is leaving us in September. We know that Steve is the best postman in Oxford, possibly in the world, and that he's always friendly, cheerful and helpful. We'd therefore like to mark his departure and to thank him for everything he's done for Grandpont over the last 14 years.         

Here's how to get involved in a community "thank you" to Steve:

 - Contribute to a leaving collection via https://www.giftround.co.uk/page/6113f072a4d73, by Wednesday 8th September. You can also write Steve a message here.

 - And/or, send messages for Steve to me on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , 138 Marlborough Road, and I'll collect them and put them in a book for him.

This could include words, pictures, a postcard, a photo of yourself outside your house - anything to remind Steve of what a great community he's leaving behind!

 - Put a poster up in your window on the night of Friday 10th September, so that Steve will see it as he does his last round on Saturday 11th September. It could be a simple 'Thank you Steve', or something more elaborate - perhaps a picture of him drawn by your kids?

 We'll present the money and the messages to Steve at a surprise gathering at Pegasus Grange, at 11 am on Friday 10th September. Everyone in the Grandpont community is invited. Please arrive between 10:45 am and 10:55 am. Enter Pegasus Grange through the main gate on White House Road, go forwards and then to the right, past the office, and to the lawn, where the presentation will take place.

 If you have any questions or other ideas for thanking Steve, please contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , 01865 242760.

 AND PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE ON!

 Thanks and best wishes, Liz"

South Oxford Community Centre has a dedicated YouTube channel for all its videos. Here is the link to the channel please subscribe to get up to date information when new videos are added https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKJZbrPDeM-TAuCA_R-n50g We have called ourselves the Pumping Station to reflect the history of our building as once being the water supply for Oxford City when built-in 1856. Follow the link to find interviews with the New Hinksey Arts artists, poetry, music and interviews with our artists who host the art workshops held monthly here in the Centre. We will be adding in interviews with the Management Committee and group leaders who regularly use the Centre.

We have many ways you can follow the Community Centre from here on the website to Facebook https://www.facebook.com/southoxfordcommunity  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/southoxfordcommunitycentre/?hl=en and Twitter @Office1937. Please show your support by liking and following us for events and the latest info as to what is happening here in the Centre.

Thank you for all your support, during this interesting time of 2020/21. The Community Centre and office have reopened in line with step 3 conditions. The activities in the Centre have increased and the available groups returning can be found on the regular users' page.

The Community cafe has reopened on a Tuesday from 11 am to 2 pm. The cafe has outdoor seating and you can sit in the yard to enjoy your homemade soup, cake or just a coffee. 

The Community Centre has been approached by a local resident looking to start a Community Cinema club. If you are interested please click on the email. "Keen to help out? We'd love to hear from you at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  "

updated 8th September 2021

We want to make certain that everyone has a safe and enjoyable visit to the South Oxford Community Centre.

To help ensure the safety and well-being of our visitors, staff and volunteers please read the following information before your visit.                    
In light of Covid-19, we would like to assure our visitors that:

• We will do our utmost to ensure everyone has the space to use the Centre safely.
• The Centre has thorough cleaning in place every day.
• We will regularly sanitise the Centre throughout the day, with special attention paid to high-contact areas such as handles, bannisters and bathrooms.
• We have strict procedures in place for our staff

In return, we kindly ask visitors to:

• Stay away if you show any symptoms associated with Covid-19 or generally feel unwell
• Wash your hands-on arrival. Washing facilities are available in both disabled toilets in the main building and the Gill Garratt and Brenda Horwood rooms. Before using the stairs or entering the Main hall sanitise your hands.
• Maintain a safe distance between yourself and others.
• Wear face-covering when you enter the Centre and in all communal areas
• Follow all Staff instructions and signage in the Centre.

For Community Centre Visitor/guest Q&A follow this link                                                    updated 19th July 2021

 The Community centre is located in a beautiful old Victorian pumping station built in 1856 and can be found a mile from the centre of Oxford just off the Abingdon Road in Lake Street.

South Oxford Community Association (set up in 1937) looks after the Community Centre day to day running. We provide rooms for the benefit of local residents to use for leisure, meetings, and learning at affordable prices. The Association is a charity, and we offer affordable rates for groups working for the benefit of the community. The Community Centre is self-financing and we pay all our own staff costs, bills, buy our equipment and maintain the interior of the building. Our Management Committee is a friendly group, and we are always looking for new members. You can find more information on the Management Committee in 'meet the team'. Please contact the office to register your interest in joining the Committee or for more information. The Community Centre hosts various groups during the year and Art events in May and Christmas. Details can be found here or on our Facebook page South Oxford Community Centre. The Centre can also be used for Art exhibitions, contact the office for more details.

We are now again producing our own Newsletters which will be distributed to local residences in the South Oxford area. We will have copies available in the Centre for those who live outside our area of delivery. All of our Newsletters are available here.

The Community Centre has Free Wi-Fi brought by Super Connected Oxford.

Please contact Debby in the office on 01865 242666 or  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

 The art in the Community Centre is now under a new title 'New Hinksey Arts' this title will be used for all our exhibitions, promotions and workshops.

The art of George Bissill has finished though his work will be able to be viewed via our YouTube channel 'The Pumping Station'.

New Hinksey Arts Workshops had been suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They are due to resume over the coming months.

Watercolour Pencil Workshop class on 14th September £12.00 for SOCA members £15.00 for non-members.

Life Drawing workshop cancelled to 2021 All materials provided. 

Building a sketchbook class 21st September £12.00 for SOCA members £15.00 for non-members

For more information on our art workshops and events see our Arts page

If you would like to be on the email list for the art events please contact the office by email to give your written consent on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Neighbourhood Community Forums are held during the year. Past Forum notes can be found here.

If you would like to be on the email list for the Forum contact the office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Find out about the regular activities taking place at the Centre.

Details of the rooms for hire 

The 37 men of New and South Hinksey. A group of local enthusiasts are researching the history of the 37 men of New and South Hinksey who lost their lives during the first world war. More information can be found on their website www.wixsy1.wixsite.com/37men-new-hinksey or contacting the office on 01865 242666

Explore the fascinating history of Grandpont, New Hinksey and Cold Harbour

Directions to the centre and a location map.

Please get in touch if you want to make a booking, or have any queries.

Links to other South Oxford organisations. This page also contains a diary of events in South Oxford.

As you will be aware as and from 25th May 2018 there are new rules on data protection. If you would like to have information sent from the Community Centre you need to send in written confirmation to the office by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  All previous agreements are no longer valid and I will not be able to contact you with information on events.

We have several lists that you can sign up for. Art events and classes, Neighbourhood Forum, and local events in general at the Community Centre. SOCA members receive emails during the year to remind them of events and what's on, so why not join the Association and support your local Community Centre and receive information direct to your inbox. We would like to keep you informed so please do contact us.

Our new policies on Privacy and Data protection can be found on the Policies page.