Your Community in Braintree

As a Centre, we aim to improve the condition and quality of life of those living in the district through the provision of facilities at the Centre for education, recreation and leisure time activities.

BBCA Classes

Weekly Classes

We offer weekly classes in a range of subjects from arts and crafts to languages, all with experienced tutors in a friendly atmosphere.
Sign up for a class here!

Room & Hall Hire

We have a variety of rooms available for hire, so whether you need to hold a group meeting for 70 people or a children’s birthday party, just the once or every week all year, we can help.

Craft Hub

Helping unwanted craft materials get passed on at very low cost!
It’s green, it’s fun and it saves you money!

Braintree Open Art

The Braintree Open Art Galleries are all available to browse here on the website. View a diverse mix of works from Braintree and around the world.

Upcoming Workshops

View the full programme here.

02 August 2025

Watercolours for Beginners Workshop

Unleash your inner artist at our 4-hour Watercolour for Beginners workshop! From 10am to 2pm, you'll dive into the wonderful world of watercolours, covering all the essential need-to-knows and foundational techniques to help you get started with confidence.   This workshop is perfect for anyone just starting their artistic journey or who has never picked up a paintbrush before but is eager to explore this beautiful medium. Please bring your own watercolour equipment, and if you have one, a drawing board would be helpful.

Find out more »
£20
06 August 2025

Soft Pastel Workshop

Ever wanted to capture the soul in a portrait? Join us for a fascinating 3-hour soft chalk pastel workshop dedicated to the art of eyes! This session is designed for everyone, no matter your experience with pastels. We'll explore fundamental portraiture techniques, guiding you through how to create luminous eyes that truly speak. Discover the magic of soft chalk pastels as you learn to blend and layer, adding depth and character to your artwork.  Learners will need to bring their own art materials comprising of: A range of soft chalk pastels Paper suitable for supporting pastel drawing Pencil and eraser […]

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£13
07 August 2025

Pom-Pom Creatures – For ages 8-11

Summer Crafting Fun Thursdays 1-3pm For ages 8-11 Drop your children off for some fun activities! Children must be between 8 and 11 years. They can bring their own drinks along. £7 per session to be booked and paid in advance. Spaces are limited to 12 a session.

Find out more »
£7

Latest News and Updates

If you are feeling sad or down, there is always help available and someone to talk to!
Here are some contact numbers, just in case.

MIND has a helpline: 0300 123 3393 Mon to Friday 9am to 6pm
SAMARITANS: call 116 123, 24/7
CRISIS run a 24/7 textline: text SHOUT to 85258 if you don’t feel you can talk but want to communicate. 

Testimonials

  • Friendly, professional and helpful staff, very clean and convenient to town. Excellent facilities offering a wide and range of adult classes and activities. - Debbie (September 2019, via Facebook)

  • A good place to have a meeting. It appears to be on a main road through Braintree, though has plenty of parking once you drive in. - David (2017, via Google)

  • Braintree Rethink Art Group use the big hall every week ... very clean....warm & friendly welcome.....Excellent venue X - Trina (May 2017, via Facebook)

  • Excellent, welcoming and flexible space, a real refuge for those in need of it. - Richard (2018, via Google)

  • Fab day as per usual, can highly recommended Maggie Harling as a tutor and braintree community centre as an excellent venue, thank you all x - Leigh (August 2018, via Facebook)

  • This is a really nice, quiet place to have meetings. It is an old house that looks like a Georgian building. It has had some modifications and extensions and the area is just lovely, just beside a shopping area. - Max (2019, via Google)

  • I really enjoyed the Class on June 9th with Maggie. She's an excellent tutor with lots of experience. The piece I made is going to look great mounted and it adds to my portfolio of techniques. Roll on the next class on 23rd June!! - Brenda (June 2018)

  • A great looking place that offers a fair few things to sign up to for reasonable prices to help you learn all types of things. - Jordan (May 2018, via Google)

Community Partners