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.

09 April 2025

Patchwork From The Start

Five sessions - £15 a session (£75 to be paid in advance) ---------------------------------------- 9th & 30th April 14th & 28th May 11th June 2025 7.00pm – 9.00pm Explore patchwork techniques in combination with getting to know your sewing machine in these fun sessions plus lots of tea and biscuits. Start learning what your machine can do as well as create useful patchwork projects including Dresden Plate Applique Motifs, Free Motion Illustration, Twin Trees Patchwork block and a Japanese Fold over pouch. 9th April-Dresden Plate Applique Motif and all things curvy.30th April- Free motion Illustration-You don’t need to know how to […]

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£75
28 May 2025

Graphite Pencil Portraits & Anatomy Workshop

Ready to dive into the fascinating world of portraiture? Join our three-hour graphite pencil art workshop where you'll unlock the secrets to capturing compelling portraits. We'll focus on understanding essential anatomical structures that bring your portraits and drawings of people to life, guiding you through techniques to achieve forms and expressions. £15 - Payable in advance All skill levels are welcome – come explore your artistic potential! You will need the following resources: Good quality Bristol paper or sketchpad, a graphite pencil drawing set comprising of graphite pencils, eraser, putty eraser, smudge sticks /tortillons, pencil sharpener or craft knife to […]

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£15
20 September 2025

Late Summer Borders in Thick & Thin Acrylics

With David Pasfield. Saturday 20th September April 2025, 9.30am-4pm (please arrive 9am to set up) £48 payable in advance   Using an underpainting technique to apply a first impression painting followed by texture build-up using a palette knife with heavy body acrylics in an impasto style. Free up your painting style, being bold and not worrying about detail. Free refreshments provided, but bring or buy your own lunch Please check the class details for the equipment and materials list Materials: No additional materials cost Equipment & Materials Acrylic paints – vibrant colours Heavy duty Impasto Gel MDF or hardboard (pre-primed […]

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£48

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

  • 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)

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

  • 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)

  • 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)

  • 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)

  • 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 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