The Waterways Community Room is managed by volunteers from the Waterways Residents Association (WRA) to provide space for meetings, children’s parties, classes and other events for the Waterways community.
Location
The Community Room is on the first floor of the block that includes the Nursery. The address is 51 Clearwater Place, Oxford, OX2 7NL. There is one dedicated parking space for the room. Other parking is limited. There are cycle racks outside and space for pushchairs inside.
The door buzzer marked ’51’ rings an intercom and lock release mechanism upstairs, inside the front door of the room. You might want to put a sign on the glass front door to tell your guests they are in the right place and ask them to press the buzzer marked ’51’ so you can let them in.
Facilities
The room is carpeted and has a small kitchen. There are 18 chairs and 4 large folding tables available for you to use. Please feel free to put up, take down and rearrange the tables to suit your needs. For young children we find that 3 tables together at one end of the room leaves plenty of play space on the carpet.
There are door wedges in the room for the door between the hallway and meeting room and for the kitchen door. Please position these firmly if you need to hold the doors open – the doors are heavy. Open any windows you wish for ventilation. It is safer to leave the front door of the community room closed so young children cannot reach the stairs.
There is a first-aid box available in the kitchen cupboard. If you use the first aid materials please let us know so we can renew supplies.
The large accessible toilet is off the hallway. There is usually toilet paper available. You may like to bring soap and a clean hand-towel or two to encourage handwashing.
A kettle and a dozen mugs are provided in the kitchen. You will also find J-cloths and rubbish bags under the sink.
For a birthday party you might want to bring along 3 large paper tablecloths and paper plates, as well as juice/water cups, a jug and the serving plates and utensils you will need. Families sometimes also like to bring a ‘Boom box’ for music.
If you want a birthday cake please be aware that the smoke detectors are very sensitive. Candles, sparklers and poppers are not recommended because the smoke alarms are very loud.
Keys and access
Once your booking is confirmed and has been added to the calendar please send an email to wraroom51@gmail.com to tell us what time you would like to set up. Our room manager will meet you to unlock the doors and let you in. Please also give us an ending time, including time for cleaning up, so the room manager can lock up when you leave.
There is a list of key holders on the notice board outside the Community room. Please only use these numbers if you have a confirmed booking and need help.
Clean up
Please use the large bin and rubbish bags to clean up at the end of your party. The checklist below will help you avoid any extra clean-up charges.
- Rubbish into rubbish bags
- Please take your full rubbish bags home with you
- Tables, and chairs if needed, wiped down and put away
- Kitchen wiped down and left tidy with mugs in the cupboard
- Bringing your vacuum cleaner from home may make your clean-up quicker and easier
- Close all windows
- Remove any party decoration from the walls, signs from the front door and balloons
- Check that toilet has been flushed and the sink is clean
- Check the coat-rack, corners and window sills for personal belongings
The community room manager will meet you to lock the room when you are ready to leave.
Payment
Birthday parties cost £35 for either the morning or the afternoon. When your booking is confirmed the WRA Treasurer will send you an invoice for payment.