Swindon social hall taken over by Freshbrook group

Volunteers, who breathed new life into Freshbrook Community Centre in 2010, are hoping to work their magic with another West Swindon asset.

The trustees of Freshbrook Community Centre have been handed the keys to Roughmoor Social Hall after agreeing a three-year lease with Swindon Borough Council.

The management transfer is the latest in a series of agreements which will see virtually all the Council’s community facilities run by volunteers.

The Mayor of Swindon Nick Martin handing over the keys to caretaker Stacey Penny, Freshbrook Community Centre chair Stephanie Bird and centre manager Emma Tanner. Below, Nick removing Swindon Council's identity form Roughmoor Social Hall
 
Roughmoor Social Hall, in Swinley Drive, Peatmoor, was run by the council since it was built towards the end of the 1980s. After inviting expressions of interest from local groups interested in running the facility, the Freshbrook volunteers came forward.
 
After almost a year of negotiations with the council, the group has officially taken over management responsility.
 
It comes after the council decided to renew the agreements for Coleview and Lawn Community Centres on 40-year leases due to their continued success under the management of community groups and these are expected to be signed by the end of the year.
 
Negotiations have also taken place with other community groups who have expressed an interest in taking over the running of Central Community Centre and Savernake Halls.
 
Expressions of interest are also being sought for Pinetrees Community Centre and Park South Community Centre and it is hoped they can be transferred next year.
 
Emma Tanner, who is the manager of both the Freshbrook and Roughmoor centres, said: “We took over the running of Freshbrook about three-and-a-half years ago and we started off with volunteers locking and unlocking the centre.
 
“After a lot of work we were able to employ a cleaner and a caretaker and we now have the money to reinvest in the centre. Quite a big chunk of our income comes from the pre-school that runs here, but we take a lot of bookings for children’s parties and we also hire out the community centre for conferences. It has been a real success story.
 
“We were contacted by the council to see if we would be interested in taking over Roughmoor and, although it’s been a long process of negotiation, hopefully we can make a difference to the centre and the users will see an improvement.
 
“We want to see people from West Swindon and further afield use the facility. Our message to local people is stay local.”
 
Cllr Mike Bawden, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Strategic Projects and Transformation, said: “Facilities like Roughmoor Social Hall are at the heart of local communities and this process is about ensuring they stay that way – run by local people, for local people.
 
“I have been really impressed by the groups that have come forward and expressed an interest in taking over our centres as you can see they really care about their neighbourhoods and how they can use the existing facilities to fashion services to meet the needs of the local community.
 
“The Freshbrook trustees are a prime example of this as they have transformed one community centre and hope to use that model to turn Roughmoor into a thriving hub for local people.”

The cost of booking Roughmoor Social Hall, suitable for up to 40 people, plus kitchen and toilets, is £10 an hour.
Freshbrook Community Centre has a hall for up to 150 people and several smaller rooms for group activities, meetings and children’s parties.

For details about booking either Freshbrook Community Centre or Roughmoor social hall, call Emma between 9am and 12noon, Monday to Friday, on 01793 870526 or mail: [email protected]