Scarborough Brunswick Owner Commits to Community Support

Scarborough's Brunswick Centre says it will continue to support the local community as redevelopment plans take shape.

This year promises to be a big one for Scarborough’s Brunswick Centre, as its multi-million pound transformation, featuring a state-of-the-art cinema, moves closer to becoming a reality. But, centre owner Scarborough Group International (SGI) is keen to point out that community spirit is still very much at its heart.

For several decades the Brunswick has been one of the focal points of Scarborough town centre, attracting an annual average footfall of seven million at its peak and while the retail landscape has evolved dramatically in the 23 years since it was first opened current owners, SGI, say its community links have strengthened in recent times.

In 2022, the centre launched its programme of support for the local community, working with 22 partners to host more than 70 engagement initiatives, including cultural activations, charity donation appeals, competition prize draws, pop-up stores, and youth support and wellbeing initiatives.

• Throughout February, August and December, the Brunswick reinstated its partnership with the Ping Pong Parlour allowing it’s visitors to entertain themselves with free games of table tennis during the school holidays.
• In April, it partnered with local social action project, the Rainbow Centre to open a donation hub to collect humanitarian aid for Ukrainian refugees.
• During Pride Week, the Brunswick’s upper mall was adorned with bunting featuring crocheted rainbows and a series of brightly-coloured graphic banners created by students from Scarborough Sixth Form College as a visual expression of their commitment to celebrating diversity and equality.
• In July, the National Literacy Trust brought its Connecting Stories project to the centre, helping to encourage children across Scarborough to develop a love of reading and improve their literacy skills.
• In August, the Brunswick announced a 12-month media partnership with local radio station, This is the Coast which will see it utilise the centre’s spaces for live broadcasts.
• In recognition of National Tree Week, the Brunswick partnered with community art practitioner, Creative Minds Scarborough to run a series of workshops with local Girlguiding groups aimed at celebrating the importance of the circular economy. Members of the local community were asked to donate their unwanted paper to be used during the workshops to make a series of Christmas trees that were displayed around the centre throughout the festive period and later recycled.
• In November, the Brunswick joined forces with Scarborough Athletic Football Club in an innovative sponsorship deal that will enable the club to have a greater presence in the town centre for product launches and ticket sales.
• Throughout December, the Brunswick hosted a series of arts and crafts sessions, musical workshops and carol concerts.

Keen to confirm that the centre will retain its overarching commitment to serving the community as the redevelopment plans move forward, Nicola Bulley, Group Head of Marketing & Communications at SGI, commented:

“As one of the UK’s leading property regeneration and placemaking specialists, we understand the importance of supporting the communities within which we operate.

“There’s no doubt that we’re planning to completely transform the Brunswick with our ambitious redevelopment plans, but putting our community first remains at the heart of everything we do.

“On behalf of the entire team, I’d like to say how incredibly proud I am of the work we’ve done, and continue to do, to support our local community. And, as we reflect on some of our most memorable achievements from the past year, we’re very much looking forward to continuing our work to give back to the communities we serve.”

Any charities or community groups wishing to partner with the Brunswick during 2023 are being asked to email Nicola.bulley@scarboroughgroup.com in the first instance.