Community centre activities in Blakenall are safeguarded
Date Published : 17 April 2008
A rescue package has been drawn up to safeguard the immediate future of Blakenall Community Centre, it has been revealed.
The future of the community centre came into question recently when Blakenall Community Association, which previously ran the centre, announced it was ceasing to trade on 31 March 2008.
Today it has been announced that a joint arrangement between Walsall Council, New Deal and Bloxwich Community Partnership has been set up to ensure all activities running out of the centre prior to the sudden closure will continue.
Groups who use the community centre have been notified of the arrangements which will take place for a period of six months commencing Monday 07 April.
This will mean that clubs and activities previously run at the centre will continue at the site.
A management committee has been formed which is made up of representatives from Bloxwich Community Partnership, New Deal and Walsall Council in order to look at the long term future of the centre.
Carol Mason, community development manager at Walsall Council, said: “We have been working in partnership with New Deal and Bloxwich Community Partnership to come to this short term solution. This agreement has been reached in a short space of time and shows the benefits that can be gained through partnership working.”
Dave Chell, chief officer at Bloxwich Community Partnership, said: “We are happy to be working with New Deal and Walsall Council to take on the developments of Blakenall Community Centre so we can get all of the activities back to normal as quickly as possible and develop a long term future for the centre,” he added.
Paul Rowlands, chief executive of Walsall New Deal, said: “We are happy to assist the bridging process to help to keep the community centre running and to help partners achieve their long term aims for the centre.”