Celebrations got under way today (Monday, 7th April), when it was announced that a scheme to totally refurbish the Acacia Avenue Community Centre had received an in-principle grant of £994,450 from the government’s Community Asset Fund.

This will enable the Centre to become a focal point for the local Community, providing a wide range of activities for all ages including training and meeting rooms, kitchen and café facilities and areas for use by other organisations including Sure Start, to deliver services to the locality.

The Council has worked on the bid in partnership with Ashfield Community Radio and Media Training (ACRMT) who expressed an interest in taking over the management of the Acacia Avenue Community Centre and developing community centres alongside their training facility.

“This is fantastic news, and shows the Council bridging the gap between itself and the community – it is true local empowerment,” said Cllr. Jason Zadrozny, Leader of the Council.

“It has taken a huge amount of hard work to develop this bid, and I am delighted that a concerted team effort by officers and the community groups has brought it to this brilliant successful conclusion.”

The Project’s Lead Officer, Georgina Streets explained that Ashfield District Council and partner community organisations were chosen to take part in a Government demonstration programme supporting the transfer of public assets to third sector organisations.

“Together with twenty other pilot schemes from across the UK, Ashfield District Council has received consultancy support from the Development Trust Association for two projects, one being the redevelopment of Acacia Avenue Community Centre in Annesley, with a further pilot project involving the Friends of Teversal who are looking to take over the management of Teversal Manor Rooms”.

Acacia Avenue Community Centre requires significant investment to bring it up to modern standards and in November 2007 a small development team from Ashfield District Council submitted an application for government funding for building improvements through the Community Asset Fund being administered by the Big Lottery.

The submission and acceptance of the capital delivery plan will mean that the refurbishment and extension of the community centre will be likely to start in October 2008 with an anticipated re-opening in late-summer 2009.