Spotlight on The Dorothy Parkes Community Centre

The Dorothy Parkes Centre (DPC) is an award-winning community centre based in Smethwick. The Centre opened in 2000 and provides a warm, safe place of welcome and opportunity, seven days a week and accessible to all. The DPC has visions and values which aim closely to reflect Miss Dorothy Parkes’ heart for the people of Smethwick, her passion for equality, and her desire to resource the area in ways that help to provide equality of opportunity for all.

The DPC helps to address many of the needs of the community by involvement in a wide range of activities. These include access to youth clubs, social groups, creative arts, martial arts, health and fitness, weight management, dance, bereavement support, alcohol and drug recovery, and private tutoring.

The installation of a Community Kitchen in 2024 has enabled the centre to create an innovative food provision linking their Community Allotment with the Community Kitchen and the first Community Fridge project in Sandwell ensuring that the local community gets the opportunity to grow, cook, and eat food.

The centre hosts a number of social events including afternoon teas, community cinema and theatre events, litter picks, and various fayres. They have recently renewed their Trusted Standard Level One status which is the only UK quality standard designed to help third sector organisations operate more effectively and efficiently as well as becoming National Living Wage employers.

For more information on the full community offer visit The Dorothy Parkes Community Centre weekly timetable by clicking here.

Be sure to check out their Summer 2025 Newsletter to find out more about the Centre.

If you’d like your Sandwell Community and Voluntary group to feature in our e-bulletin, please email our Small Groups Development Officer Libby at libby@scvo.info