Published Monday 9 November 2015 at 12:31
The management of a Blackburn community centre is to be handed over to a Blackburn-based charity, it has been announced.
Blackburn with Darwen Council has agreed to transfer management and future development responsibilities at Bangor Street Community Centre to a local charitable trust, Minority Enterprise Development Trust (MEDT) from April 1, 2016, after a tendering process was undertaken.
The Council put out a call earlier in the summer for qualified and experienced groups who could demonstrate that they are capable of effectively managing and developing the facility for the benefit of the community.
As Councils are increasingly facing further funding cuts, local groups are needed to play a greater role in their neighbourhoods. Asset transfer is aimed at giving local people and communities greater control in the future of their area and their facilities.
MEDT was set up in 2004 to support projects that develop business skills in the community and multi-cultural and multi-racial harmony in business. The trustees of MEDT have been long-standing supporters of BME community projects within Blackburn with Darwen.
The Council will still retain ownership of the Bangor Street building and community programmes and activities will continue. It will work with MEDT through a shadowing and license period until eventually handing over to the charity in April 2016.
Councillor Damian Talbot, Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Young People, said:
I’m delighted that this process has been finalised and we are now in a position to hand over management of Bangor Street to MEDT. The Council is committed to working constructively with community groups, local people and organisations to ensure that community asset transfer in Blackburn with Darwen Borough is successful.
Councillor Phil Riley, Executive Member for Regeneration, said:
We know the members of the MEDT team very well and are impressed with their track record working across the borough. We feel sure that Bangor Street is in very safe hands.
Khalid Saifullah, a Trustee of MEDT, said:
We are delighted to have been chosen by the Council and are committed to the long-term sustainable future of the centre for all stakeholders. Our trustees are highly experienced and successful local business people who passionately believe in the alleviation of poverty through business education and enterprise creation. We will continue to support all programmes that have a positive impact on the local community and look forward to working with new groups who can enhance the present offer.