New Deal Secures Future of Three Popular Community Centres

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Urban Partnership Group vows to invest in buildings and improve local services

A new partnership between H&F Council and local charity Urban Partnership Group has secured the future of three popular community centres.

The council says the deal puts residents at the heart of decision making at the Masbro Centre, Edwards Woods Community Centre and 49 Brook Green, and safeguards the centres against any potential commercial redevelopment for a generation to come.

Work has been completed to transfer the freehold ownership of the Masbro and Edward Woods Community Centres to Urban Partnership Group – a charity, which is also a company limited by guarantee.

Meanwhile 49 Brook Green is being leased to the group for 30 years.

The facilities at the centre will be well known to the communities that use them: 

• The Masbro Centre, on the corner of Masbro and Milson Roads north of Olympia,  has an indoor sports pitch, gym, dance studio, pottery and art workshops, training rooms, exhibition space, crèche, children’s centre and youth facilities.
• The Edward Woods Community Centre, on the Edward Woods Estate in Norland Roadhosts 58 regular community activities across a sports hall and three multi-purpose rooms.
• 49 Brook Green is home to two nurseries, and also hosts a wide variety of children centre activities and parenting classes.

Andy Sharpe, Chief Executive of Urban Partnership Group, said: "The Council’s foresight in making this asset transfer a reality opens up opportunities to invest in the buildings and improve services to local people."

Cllr Sue Fennimore, Deputy leader of H&F Council, said: "There is nobody better placed to make community decisions than the community itself, and this move puts residents firmly in charge of their own community centres.

"We like to do things with people, rather than to them in Hammersmith & Fulham; and this move empowers local residents to have a huge say in the community facilities that are available to them."

November 24, 2017