It’s 11th February 2015 in High Wycombe. After a shaky start, during which it barely stumbled through the credit crunch, Eden Shopping centre has gone from strength to strength and is attracting people from all corners of North-West London. The ‘new social consciousness’, which all the media seems to have become fixated with since the dark days of 2008 and 2009, is what seems to be pulling shoppers in as they look less to the joys of naked consumerism and more to making practical purchases that will do some good to others as well as themselves. Eden is widely seen as a leader in the field, with its commitment to giving discounts on rent to socially conscious retailers and its generous funding of Third World projects. In sport, Wycombe Wanderers are enjoying their second season in The Championship and look likely to make the play-offs and the chance to be promoted to the Premier League. As well as this, there’s an intriguing derby game in the FA Cup to look forward to against Chelsea, which came about as the result of the brilliant third round win at Arsenal.

But the talk of the town, and indeed of the whole area, is St John’s Arts and Creativity centre on Desborough Road, which in a few short years has become a key destination for those interested in culture across the region. It seems an awfully long time since those 300 people made it possible through their support of the inaugural event back in December 2008, during which they were treated to, amongst other things, an excellent gallery of arts and crafts. It was no surprise that, following further support from the centre, a couple of the artists went on to much bigger things.

Those who stayed well into the evening, even foregoing the opportunity to watch Match of Day, were treated to a showcase of energetic, original and truly diverse talent. Many at the time commented that what was on offer was of a far higher standard than the ‘talents’ that were gracing the screen on ‘X-Factor’ at exactly the same time. Indeed, ‘The Guardian’ would suggest in 2012 that exactly the type of showcase put on at Desborough Road was in part responsible for the death of television talent shows as a genre, their audiences beginning to sicken of them like a child who has eaten too much candy floss – a poll done last year showed that over 95% of people supported the ban on television talent shows which the government introduced in 2013. People suddenly began to demand that their entertainment be more nourishing and original than an evening of Mariah Carey covers – exactly the type of thing that St John’s has been able to offer the local community over the last six years.

From the exciting and bold brushstrokes of December 2008, a centre that the area can truly make use of has been created. On 11th February 2015, the centre is open almost round the clock. A writer who made use of the centre in its early years for support and inspiration has returned to run one of several creative writing morning workshops she is planning for the year. In the afternoon, a group of young people from the local ‘Entry to Employment’ scheme are rehearsing for their showcase of performing arts, which will take place at the end of the month. The evening sees a talk by a new British film director, followed by a preview screening of his debut film. The film looks back to his childhood growing up in Wycombe, dealing with the troubles he and his community faced during the ‘War on Terror’, which is now thankfully a thing of the past. Throughout the day locals from the town and surrounding areas drop in for a drink and a chance to browse the impressive art and craft gallery, which includes work by the two artists who have since ‘made it’. Once a week, at nightfall, the centre becomes a drop-in centre for all those seeking creative inspiration. Poets, artists, dancers, musicians and actors all meet under one roof to discuss new ideas and trends and, hopefully, to produce something new by the time the sun rises. Some of those present doubt their abilities and wonder whether they’ll ever be able create something out of nothing other than sheer willpower and desire, but then they are reminded how the centre got started in the first place…