The Big
Venture Community Centre has finally re-opened on The Scotland’s Estate, in
Wolverhampton, following a battle of trying to keep hold of the premises, gain
funding and revamp the old adventure playground into something more useful for
the community.
The
redeveloped centre has a number of rooms that are available for people in the
local community to use and hire to run classes, sell goods, learn skills,
socialise and relax. It is also home to Big Centre Radio Station and a brand
new community café.
Local
Councillor Steve Evans said, “I think what was important was to keep the
building alive, and through partnerships with the Big Local Community Trust,
and more importantly local residents supported by the local council and
councillors, [it] has enabled us to keep the building alive for the community,
run by the community.”
Chairperson
of Big Venture, Karen Trainor, said, “we had already lost [one] centre on the
estate, we didn’t want to lose this one as well.” Karen also helps out at the
centre by volunteering her time to help run and maintain the property.
One way
that the community stay’s in control of the centre is by holding shares. “So
far we have sold 70 shares… which has given us a bit of money to start with,
and by having a share, people can have a say on the centre,” told Karen.
Chris Allen
of the Big Local Trust explained that “about 5 years ago the area was given £1
million to invest. When the Scotland’s adventure centre was under threat of
closure, local residents said that what they wanted to do was take it over and
run it themselves.”
“The key
principle in the programme is that the residents are in control, residents are
leaders of this and therefore to have an organisation and building that is
owned by the community and an asset for the community,” stated Chris Allen.
Louisa
Edwards, from the Community Action & Training Services expressed, “The main
purpose of the centre is to provide something for everyone locally so we are
looking at getting groups up and running to use the centre, something for
everybody right from the little ones up to the older people.”
