Brighton community centre threatened with closure

A community centre that is home to a popular playgroup could close, according to a report in the Brighton and Hove Independent today (Friday 11 July).

The Old Boat Corner Community Centre, which is next to Carden Park in Hollingbury, is a well-used public facility.

It provides a range of activities including the much-loved Carden Tots – a drop-in group for parents and young children.

Carden Tots is run by a charity, Together Group, and sessions cost just £1.50, making it an affordable option for parents in the local area.

Those parents have, however, been warned that the community centre could close unless more support is forthcoming.

And that could mean the end for Carden Tots and the raft of other services on offer at the Old Boat.

The volunteer committee which runs the centre has organised a meeting for Monday evening (14 July) at the Old Boat, starting at 7.30pm.

They are hopeful that as many people as possible will attend and show their support.

Toni Lloyd, who runs the centre’s café, said there was a “real threat” of closure. She said that the committee was looking for people to bring some fresh ideas or volunteer to help out in whatever way they could to maintain the Old Boat’s financial stability.

The alternative, she said, could be closure for both the community centre and its social club and that, she said, would be nothing short of a disaster for the local area.

Ms Lloyd said: “The centre is a meeting place for people of all ages and from all walks of life.

“It is really important to the local community and losing it would have a huge impact on people.

“It is a brilliant place and it would be really sad to lose it.”

As well as Carden Tots, the Old Boat houses sessions in short mat bowls, kickboxing, a play group for dads or granddads and their children, pilates, a youth club, a choir and an active at 60 class.

For more information on the community centre, visit: www.obccc.co.uk or search Facebook for Old Boat Corner Community Centre and Social Club.

A message on the centre’s Facebook site said: “Please come along to the meeting, share your ideas, offer your voluntary support and help keep this local treasure open.”