Longtown Memorial and Community Centre
Last updated at 13:12, Thursday, 31 July 2008
The City Council took over the development of the centre in the early 80's. It's owned by the City Council but the major decisions and running of the centre come down to the baord of trustees formed from local councillors and residents.
The City Council took over the development of the centre in the early 80's. It's owned by the City Council but the major decisions and running of the centre come down to the baord of trustees formed from local councillors and residents.
The centre offers a range of activities. Indoor Bowling is proving to be a big hit, WI meetings, Cricket Club, Junior football, Neighbourhood Forum meetings, Exhibitions, and any number of public meetings all rely on the hall as a venue.
Nigel Williamson was involved in sports management before accepting the position as centre manager. He's been in charge for four years and is clear about his aims for the centre.
Nigel said, "It's simple. We want to improve the quality of the building and increase the range of activities which we can offer the people of Longtown. We need to find our way back into the community and offer Longtown sodcial and recreational facilities to imoprove the welfare of the community as a whole. It really should be the heartbeat of any community."
The major inititive, Longtown moving forward is likely to provide some major opportunities for the centre and its direction. The initiative is likely to open up new avenues of funding which Nigel is keen to realise if as he states,
"We need to change the perception of this building from a communtiy centre to a centre for community."
The venue is also the centre for the Longtown youth project which provides a valuable resource for youths in Longtown. Catering for 11 - 19 year olds and run on a Monday and Tuesday, the projects remit is a wide one. A local youth DJ group has recently secured funding as well as a mountain biking club. It is also behind a successful girtls five a side football team. The project is promoting music, drama and literature. Further drop in sessions are run and give those attending the chance to discuss issues around sex education, drugs, alcohol awareness and a raft of subjects which provide support and information to teenagers which is often not available through normal schooling.
Nigel said, "It's a really iomportant source of information for these children. We can see forty to fifty people attending teh youth grouyp each week. We find that for some members who have been excluded from schools, it is their only source of information and a vital service."
The centre is looking forward and the outcome of Longtown moving Forward is likely to have a major bearing on its future direction.
First published at 22:09, Monday, 28 July 2008
Published by http://www.longtownlocal.co.uk
