Having been involved in my local Community Centre for just over eight years (just before I retired), I am now a keen supporter. Together with a group of local residents who were also concerned at the lack of facilities in our centre, we have been able to turn it around. It is now a vibrant meeting place used daily Monday to Friday by over twenty groups and regularly at weekends for family gatherings.
We had no guidebook to tell us what to do, just lots of enthusiasm and a bit of common sense. What we have learned is:
- your centre should cater for all ages – from pre-school to pensioner.
- you need to publicise what you offer – yes, it pays to advertise!
- you should encourage as many people as possible to participate, whether running or supporting a group or being part of the management committee.
- new blood is important to ensure that expertise and experience is not limited to certain cliques or lost when a key member leaves or dies.
We still see too many underused, poorly maintained community buildings around us that are expensive to heat and run (church halls, scout huts, ambulance halls, etc.). Let’s all cooperate a bit more and provide our communities with decent facilities that will be fully used and appreciated by all in these testing financial times.
Roger Evans, Gwent, by email
