In the early hours of Saturday, 15th November, Monmouth awoke to devastating floodwaters that swept through parts of the town with alarming speed and force. Among the hardest hit was the Bridges Centre, where the entire ground floor was submerged beneath three feet of water. The flooding caused extensive damage throughout the building and has had a profound impact on the hundreds of people who rely on the centre every week.

Bridges Centre is home to 15 small businesses, over 70 regular groups and classes, and several wellbeing projects, including Social Circles. The Bridges Shop has also been forced to close temporarily, adding further disruption.

Once insurers gave the go-ahead, staff joined forces with more than 40 volunteers who arrived, ready to help. Together, over an intense two-day effort, they removed water-damaged furniture, salvaged equipment, cleared debris, and prepared the building for the specialist teams who soon followed with professional cleaning and industrial drying equipment.

As a Grade II listed building, Bridges must be treated with exceptional care. Drying the timber too quickly risks cracking and further structural damage. For this reason, they cannot yet predict exactly when they will be able to reopen the doors.

Despite the heartbreak of seeing our ground floor submerged and so many of our activities disrupted, they have worked tirelessly to relocate as many groups, classes, and services as possible and have been deeply moved by the generosity of local businesses who stepped forward with offers of space, equipment, and practical help at short notice.

They are also grateful for the swift response from Monmouthshire County Council, who immediately offered use of the old Post Office building to help keep some services running until Christmas.

“The determination of our partners, practitioners, and service users during this challenging time has been nothing short of extraordinary,” a spokesman said

“What has carried us through the past weeks, however, is the overwhelming kindness of the people of Monmouth. Volunteers arrived in their wellies and gloves ready to help, neighbours offered storage, and countless individuals contributed to our flood appeal. We are also grateful to Monmouthshire County Council for working closely with us throughout, ensuring support systems were in place when we needed them most.

“The loss we feel is real and significant, but so too is our gratitude. In the face of devastation, Monmouth has shown once again what a community can achieve when it stands together.

“Although we cannot yet provide a timeline for full reopening, we are committed to emerging from this disaster stronger than before. The restoration work, once complete, will allow us to welcome our community back into a building that is safeguarded for the future — renewed, resilient, and ready for the next chapter.

“Bridges Centre has weathered many challenges over the years, and with continued support, we will weather this one too. The doors may be closed for now, but the heart of the community beats on — and we look forward to opening again in a better state than ever.”