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10
Nov 2024
Campaign launched to save Harrogate community centre from closure
A campaign has been launched to save a Harrogate community centre from closure next month.
St. George’s Community Centre is used weekly by numerous local groups, including Harrogate Skills 4 Living, Slimming Word, Interact Performance Group, Lifeline and Parish Art Room.
The centre on Mornington Terrace consists of a main hall and a side room and has been run as a charity since the 1980s.
But following an urgent meeting in September, the committee sent an email saying the centre will close permanently on December 20.
The committee said increased running costs, refurbishment needs and recruitment issues had led to the decision.
Below is the letter sent to centre users:
Chris Battersby, one of two trustees of the charity, contacted the Stray Ferret to express concerns about the decision.
Mr Battersby, who was not present at the dissolution meeting, has been a trustee since 2012 and was previously secretary and treasurer until 2023.
He wrote to the Charity Commission claiming the centre had breached the terms of its constitution by not giving 21 days' notice for the dissolution meeting.
Now he and and groups that use the centre have launched a campaign to void the decision to close the site.
He said:
The site is used seven days a week and almost 300 people use the building.
People have rented the space long term, and it is a valuable asset. We suddenly received the email saying it was going to close.
We hope to stop the closure. There are people willing to take it on and put up funds and now everyone who uses it has nowhere to go.
The Stray Ferret contacted the Charity Commission, which regulates charities, about Mr Battersby's complaint.
A spokesperson said:
We can confirm that after receiving concerns about St George’s Community Centre, we assessed information available to us to determine any role for us as regulator.
As a result, we provided trustees with regulatory advice and guidance regarding finance and governance.
L to R: Chris Battersby, Cate Pervana, Michael Thompson, Carol Thompson, Carl Good and Lisa Dennis
'I beg anyone to please help us stop this'
The Stray Ferret visited the centre to meet groups that use it on Friday morning (November 8).
Carl Good, chief executive of Lifeline homelessness charity said:
It is a massive injustice there are so few centres in the town centre and this is an amazing location.
We use it for a support group every week and for us it feels like it’s a home and a place where we can relax.
There are plenty of willing people who would like to get involved, everyone loves it. So many groups rely on it and it would leave a massive hole if it closed.
Cate Pervana, who rents the hall for Slimming World classes, has used the space for almost nine years.
She said she sees 180 people weekly there and added the news had come as a "slap in the face". She added:
I beg anyone to please help us stop this. This centre is so much to so many people there aren’t many centres around anymore that just help people on the street. We need people to stand up.
Lisa Dennis and Michael Thompson in their rented spaces
While groups like Harrogate Skills 4 Living, Slimming World and Lifeline all use the main hall, other organisations are tucked away elsewhere in the building.
One of these is Parish Art Room run by Lisa Dennis. She works in the space and teaches classes downstairs in the hall.
She told the Stray Ferret her business would be affected by the decision and the community she works with would suffer.
She said:
I am here six days a week and I have been here for five years.
I will have to dispose of lots of art and easels. I have current and former students’ art in this space.
I’ve invested time, effort and equipment and there has been no communication about this decision. I’ve never met the committee in five years I have been here.
It disturbs my business, and I feel really strongly about it all. How can they do this to the charities who come here? That’s the whole point of the building.
Amateur dramatics group the Deanery Players rent the top floor and have hundreds of costumes stored in boxes and on rails.
The company has been renting the loft space since 1998. Carol and Michael Thompson have been at the helm since 2007.
Mr Thompson said:
We have no idea what will happen or where we will go. Our options are to find another space in Harrogate that costs the same, which will be difficult. Or split the collection and try and donate some costumes, our last option is the tip.
Committee says it was 'forced into' decision
The Stray Ferret contacted the committee of St George’s Community Centre to ask what is set to happen and why the decision has been made.
Mark Plummer, secretary and treasurer of the centre said:
It is with regret that the trustee and management committee will have to close St George’s Community Centre to users whilst we make decisions about the charity and the centre’s future. The volunteers who make up the committee have worked hard for some time to try and secure new volunteers to help with the running of the centre and raise funds to assist with the substantial repairs required, but without success.
This is a position the committee has been forced into due to the drastically increased costs of running and maintaining the centre, which is a large building needing substantial repairs and refurbishment to ensure it is appropriate and safe for use, and given our obligations to both the users and as a registered charity.
The centre is not for sale, the search for new trustees/committee members is ongoing.
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