On Friday 16 April, Wormley and Turnford Big Local (WTBL) officially took over the running of Wormley Community Centre from Broxbourne Borough Council.
For many years Wormley Community Centre has faced an uncertain future and was in danger of being closed down. WTBL has continually expressed an interest in buying the building or taking over the management on behalf of the community if the opportunity arose.
WTBL has finally achieved that aim and been able to negotiate a 999-year lease on the building. This guarantees the long term future of the centre and ensures that the local community will play a key role in shaping its development as a vibrant, multi-purpose venue for the benefit of everyone.
The community space will now undergo significant refurbishment to ensure sustainability, growth and exciting future opportunities.
The Co-Chair of Wormley and Turnford Big Local, Audra Heywood said: "We are so excited that this historical transition has taken place. This is a great opportunity for the whole Community and shows that together we can make a difference.”
Noelle Blackman, a director of Broxbourne Big Local, the legal entity created by WTBL to take on the lease, also said: “It’s taken us many years to get to this point and we’d like to thank all those who’ve played their part in achieving this amazing outcome.”
Leader of Broxbourne Borough Council, Councillor Lewis Cocking said: “As a representative of this ward I couldn’t be happier with Wormley and Turnford Big Local taking over the management of the Wormley Community Centre.
“This is an exciting and much needed step forward to help ensure that the local community continues to benefit from valuable services hosted in this facility. The team at Wormley and Turnford Big Local bring with them a wealth of experience in community services and so I am confident of the positive impact this will have on a diverse range of individuals and groups in the area for years to come.”
“The handover is very much aligned with the Council’s corporate priorities that include A Thriving Economy that offers business growth and jobs, Sustainable Living in an attractive environment and An Effective Council that is efficient and responsive to the needs of residents.”
Big Local is a resident led community development project funded by the National Lottery. To find out more about Wormley and Turnford Big Local visit www.wtbiglocal.org.uk