Creative Health and Wellbeing Hub
Opening Autumn 2025 at the former Sanderstead library building
full website coming soon!
“Many things make us human, but our desire to share stories about who we are, where we come from, and what we mean to each other is the most extraordinary and essential.”
See you in a few weeks!
We’re now temporarily closed for repair works, reopening late October.
For updates, check back here, sign up for our newsletter or follow us on our socials.
Our thanks to the brilliant team from Mears builders who are working hard to revitalise the main space for us.
We’re working behind the scenes to set up our membership system, build a better website, onboard volunteers and create a plan using the wonderful suggestions from our Open Day!
What’s the plan?
A space to make, share, rest, laugh, and reconnect – working with local residents and creative and voluntary organisations from across Croydon. From visual arts and writing to movement, song, games, gardening, and more; we aim to gently transform the building into a warm, creative space where everyone feels they belong.
Who’s behind this?
The project is being led by A Collective. We are a small neurodivergent arts non-profit, centred around creative health and wellbeing; our founder Jill lives in Sanderstead.
Our team is experienced working with people across all ages and identities. We plan to run a playful, intergenerational, sensory-friendly and inclusive trauma-informed programme – a gentle approach that we believe benefits everyone.
What’s happening now?
We’re in the process of working with Croydon Council to agree a temporary licence to use the building, in advance of negotiating a full lease.
Through the autumn, we’ll be inviting people to join a ‘Friends of The Story Sanctuary’ group, launching a fundraiser, submitting initial funding applications and starting to work with community partners to develop our programme.
If you are a local wellbeing practitioner, please contact Jill to express an interest.
How can I get involved?
If this sparks something in you – curiosity, ideas, excitement, or a wish to help – we’d love to hear from you. Register here for more info.
The building has stood empty since last autumn and is long overdue for investment and improvement. Over time, we plan to fundraise to address this, particularly in terms of improving accessibility, and we would like to open a small, quiet community café.
It’s going to take time and money to transition the empty building into a vibrant space full of joy. For now, we’re working to get the doors open so everyone can come and meet us, see what we’re up to, and contribute to the plan; we’ll put the kettle on.
Is there any more information?
The original manifesto and proposal submitted to Croydon Council is available here.
Conversations and research (and the UK and world at large) have moved on a lot since then, but the fundamental principles remain the same:
- neurodivergent and queer (LGBTQIA+) leadership,
- co-production with our Sanderstead and wider Croydon community,
- a membership model with modest fees to cover core costs,
- transparent and inclusive communication,
- healing conversations,
- lots of fun and joy.
“Jill and her team at A Collective are truly inspiring to work with, their direct lived experience and intergenerational perspectives are invaluable. They are brilliant listeners, leaders, observers, and facilitators, striking the perfect balance between support and guidance for people in the community. I cannot recommend working with them enough.”
Demelza Watts
Production Manager, Performance and Participation at Tate Modern
