The Wynd Centre is one of the main outreach arms of the now united congregation of Oakshaw Trinity Church. Initially the Centre provided a counselling service with five counsellors and a coffee shop. Today, and after a £2.7million refurbishment of the former St. John’s Church and halls, the centre has grown to provide a variety of services and facilities to many of Paisley and Renfrewshire’s mutual aid and self help groups.

The counselling service has expanded with anything between thirty and forty counsellors providing almost nine thousand hours of counselling annually. All our counsellors are volunteers that are highly qualified, committed and dedicated to working with those who are most vulnerable.

The Coffee Shop which is staffed principally by volunteers remains one of our main sources of income through which we are able to provide our services.

The Centre is the base for a number of organisations including PACE, Victim Support, Social Care Association and Paisley Child Contact Centre as well as providing a venue for many weekly and monthly meetings of other groups.

Within the Centre you will find various types of suitable accommodation for let, such as the 230 seat auditorium, halls and meeting rooms that will suit just about any requirement. We can provide your function/meeting with teas and coffees or you can always visit our Coffee Shop during the day. There are vending machines within the main reception area that can provide a variety of hot and cold drinks as well as snacks.

The Wynd Centre is a busy place and without the hundred or so volunteers that help in various ways we would simply not be able to operate. Like almost every other charity within the United kingdom volunteers are always needed, even if it is just a few hours every few weeks.

The idea of a church centre arose in the Kirk Session of the former St John’s Church, in the early 1980’s. Neighbouring Church of Scotland congregations were approached to find out their interest in such an idea, and Orr Square Church expressed a desire to be involved.

It was decided to make it an ecumenical venture. The local Congregational Church in School Wynd was informed and soon joined St John’s and Orr Square in the project. Two years later the High Kirk became a partner in the centre.

A feasibility study was completed and concluded that such an outreach of the town centre churches, with gathered congregations, was highly desirable, and if the congregations were sufficiently committed to the project the necessary £50,000 or so would be found. It was act of faith. A building was available locally but renovations and alterations were necessary.

The main objective was to be a caring and serving arm of the church in the town centre by sharing our faith and the services of the church with the community – shoppers, visitors, students and workers. We considered that such an objective could be further served by providing:

•    a base for pastoral and social care for those in need,
•    a meeting place with catering facilities where Christians can communicate with various groups and
•    a place for quiet thought and spiritual help.

These objectives shaped the plan of the use of the available building (owned by the Trustees of St John’s Church) – to include a coffee shop and small chapel.

By the time the centre was opened over eighty per cent of the estimated target of £50,000 had been gathered or firmly promised. This included over £18,000 from the Mission Fund of St John’s Church, from the Council for World Mission of which the Congregational Union of Scotland was a member, £4,000 from special fundraising and sponsored activities, £3,000 from the Paisley Congregational Churches’ (including the then recently closed New Street EU Church), and a grant for £3,000 from the Church of Scotland. Loans were also made by the Church of Scotland and the Congregational Union of Scotland. A refurbishment appeal realised approximately £50,000 in two years including £38,000 from individuals, trusts and other bodies and £11,000 from our own reserves.

The centre is operated as a church-promoted registered company with charitable status, by guarantee rather than share capital. The Directors are representatives from OTC congregation.

The Board of Directors determines the policy for the day to day running of the centre, while the Coffee Shop is managed by voluntary supervisors co-ordinated by a Director. The letting of the premises is also looked after by the Board.

Counselling: one of the main aims of the Wynd Centre is to help people in difficulty. At present this is done by the Wynd Counselling Service, and Victim Support Renfrewshire, which has its office within the building.

The ministry of the Wynd is a team ministry and in the Wynd that means all of us together, volunteers, supervisors, Board members, Coffee Shop management, office staff, those who support the work in any way, those who remember the work of the Wynd by their care and in prayer.

The day starts with a short service in the Chapel at 9.45am – this is open to all. The Coffee Shop is more than serving tea and coffee. The welcome and friendliness of helpers to visitors is an essential characteristic of the Wynd.

This remains the intention of the Wynd – to provide opportunity for Christian service and witness.