History

The Yews was originally a modest Victorian family house that was extended several times over the years to its current size. In addition to its role as a family house it housed the post office and the fire station in an annex later demolished to extend the house. It originally had a large garden but when the last family moved out in 1960, the house was sold to the local council and a new house (now replaced by flats) was built in the garden for the owner.

East Sussex County Council, the local council in the 1960, converted the house into a residential home for teenagers in care who were starting a working life. This role lasted until 1974 when under the local government re-organisation, The Yews passed to West Sussex County Council. Shortly before the building had been turned into the community centre it is today. One of the first groups to use it was The Nursery Playgroup which ran until 2016.

The Friends of The Yews was established in 1984 to support the Yews and the groups who use its facilities. It was an independent registered charity which raised funds for the facilities and activities and made small grants to individual groups to help with special activities, such as Christmas parties and summer outings. These functions have now been taken over by the Partnership.

In January 2011 a new partnership (consisting of the Friends of the Yews, Mid Sussex (South) Council for Voluntary Service, Sussex Oakleaf and Action for Deafness supported by Haywards Heath Town Council, WSCC and Mid Sussex District Council) applied to WSCC to take over the running of The Yews. The Yews (Haywards Heath) Community Partnership was formed as a charitable company limited by guarantee and is now responsible for the running of this essential community service. WSCC formally handed over the building at a ceremony on October 1st 2011 - see pictures on the right.