A church is to run Townhill Park Community Centre following a Community Asset Transfer, while the council is again inviting organisations wanting to manage Harefield Community Centre to come forward.

 

City Life Church's bid to run Townhill Park Community Centre was formally approved by the council's cabinet on April 21, and lease negotiations are ongoing.

Dan Pooley, right, Resource Leader at City Life, said the church is a charity that's actively involved in the local community, aiming to work in partnership for the benefit of all, especially the vulnerable and disadvantaged.

He said the church had been involved with Townhill Park Community Association for the past few years, helping find new committee members and run activities.

'Growing level of community engagement'

“The community association didn't feel they were well enough equipped or had the resources to take on the running of or carry the liability of looking after the centre. As a result we agreed to look into taking on the centre to ensure it remained open for the local community with the aim of developing more community activities and ownership of the centre.”

Mr Pooley said he hoped City Life could build more of a community feel to the centre and connect up the various groups that run activities and events, “growing the level of community engagement” and increasing “people's feeling of ownership of the centre and what goes on there”.
 
“We plan to work with existing groups, and others in the area, to build on what already happens to try and meet local felt needs, particularly around activities for young families, youth work and help grow a strong, healthy community in Townhill Park,” he said.

Harefield Community Centre re-advertised

The council is also now re-advertising an asset transfer for the currently closed Harefield Community Centre, because a previous bidder had to withdraw. Originally, as we reported in July 2014,  there were two expressions of interest, from Just Centres, and Christian charity New Community Network.

The deadline for expressions of interest for Harefield Community Centre is July 31. If you fancy running it, details are here.