Transforming Upton Lea Community Centre
Cardo was delighted to support the transformation of Upton Lea Community Centre, joining 17 volunteers for a community decorating day organised by Viva Slough, a Community Interest Company.
The centre is a valuable community space, hosting a wide range of activities and services for residents. It is also home to Tiny Turtles Children’s Nursery, making it an important and welcoming environment for both children and families.
Over time, the centre had begun to look tired and worn. The magnolia walls showed signs of heavy use, with discolouration and visible marks throughout both the main community areas and nursery.
The Challenge
Before the centre could be transformed with colourful artwork, the walls needed significant preparation and repainting.
Viva Slough’s resident artist, Jho, had developed plans to create a series of vibrant murals throughout the centre. However, the existing walls needed to be cleaned, prepared and given a fresh coat of paint to create the perfect canvas for the artwork.
The nursery also required special attention, with plans for an exciting underwater Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme to create a fun and imaginative environment for the children.
Cardo’s Contribution
Cardo joined 17 volunteers to roll up their sleeves and get involved in the decorating work.
Working together, the volunteers repainted the walls throughout the centre, transforming tired and discoloured surfaces into clean, fresh spaces ready for the next stage of the project.
One of the highlights of the day was creating ocean waves along the nursery walls. The volunteers had great fun bringing the underwater theme to life, carefully preparing the space for Jho to add the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-inspired murals.
Through teamwork, energy and plenty of paint, the volunteers created a bright and welcoming backdrop ready for the artist’s illustrations.
The Impact
The transformation will help create a brighter, more welcoming and inspiring environment for everyone who uses Upton Lea Community Centre.
For the children attending Tiny Turtles Children’s Nursery, the underwater-themed space will provide a colourful and imaginative setting that can support play, creativity and enjoyment.
The project also demonstrates the impact that can be achieved when businesses, volunteers and community organisations work together to improve the spaces that matter most to local people.
Working in Partnership
The decorating day brought together 17 volunteers, Viva Slough and Cardo, demonstrating the power of partnership and community spirit.
Once the preparation and decorating work is complete, Viva Slough’s resident artist Jho will bring the walls to life with colourful murals, adding a unique and creative finishing touch to the community centre.
A Thriving Community Environment
During the visit, it was also fantastic to see the Project Sponge rain garden SUDSPlanters thriving.
Having previously visited the centre months earlier to look at potential locations for the planters, it was particularly rewarding to see the original vision become a beautiful natural reality. The thriving rain garden now provides an attractive green feature while helping to demonstrate how sustainable drainage and nature-based solutions can enhance community spaces.
The transformation of Upton Lea Community Centre is a fantastic example of what can happen when organisations and volunteers come together with a shared vision — creating brighter spaces, encouraging creativity and helping local community facilities continue to thrive.