The Masbro Centre
Three community centres have been handed over to the communities that use them by H&F Council.
The move puts regular people 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.
The groundbreaking deal, between Hammersmith & Fulham Council and Urban Partnership Group, will see a host of activities continue, and residents put in the driving seat for future plans.
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.”
The move will safeguard these community centres in perpetuity, and reflects a new exciting partnership between Hammersmith & Fulham Council and the charities sector.
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.”
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 same organisation for 30 years.
The facilities at the centre will be well known to the communities that use them:
- The Masbro Centre 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 hosts 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.
