By John Baron
A community charity supporting local people in need is interested in managing a community centre facing an uncertain future.
As reported by WLD last week, community stalwart Yvonne Allman who has run Swinnow Community Centre for eight years, has announced she is to stand down next month.
The centre, which is used by a host of community organisations and services, is currently earmarked for temporary closure on March 21.
But Pudsey Community Project, which has its base in a former church in Fartown, has thrown its hat into the ring.
Posting on social media and its website, the charity – which hosts a food bank, food pantry and a raft of community services for young and old, said: “We will do whatever we can to ensure the continued operation of Swinnow Community Centre and are in conversation with the council about a future opportunity to take on the management of the building and its groups and use.
“We are a grassroots community charity, committed to transforming our area – Pudsey, Swinnow, Farsley, Calverley and more – with and for the local community, especially those who are most vulnerable and disadvantaged.
“We are saddened by the idea this valued and important community centre might close, especially in an area with so many underlying financial struggles.
“So we have already started working on how we might continue its important work, planning the possibility of taking on the management of the centre and running it for the local community (not a simple task, given that the council had been paying for utilities and maintenance, and probably won’t in the future).
“We’d love it if you could help us make our case to the council by registering your support through this quick link and helping us show that the local community want this important resource to stay serving its locality.:”
More than 400 names have already signed their support and the project is hoping to make it over 1,000 in the next week.
WLD understands at least one other community organisation has expressed an interest in running the council-owned facility.
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