New operator takes over Craven Arms Community Centre
A new operator has taken over the running of Craven Arms Community Centre.
The five-year contract was started this week by Halo Leisure, which also runs The Severn Centre in Highley and Bridgnorth Endowed Leisure Centre.
The Newington Way building was run by The Furniture Scheme for the last five years, until the charity wanted to renegotiate the terms of the lease in order to ensure the future viability of the centre.
Landlords, Craven Arms Playing Field Association (CAPFA), decided to invite expressions of interest from anyone else who might be interested in running the centre.
A spokesman for CAPFA, of which Craven Arms Town Council is the sole corporate trustee, said: “We look forward to working in partnership with Halo Leisure in continuing with the success of the community centre for the benefit of the local community."
Alex Haines, Halo’s partnership manager said: “We are delighted to be selected as the preferred partner for the centre.
"Our social enterprise business model and registered charity status allows us to trade for social purposes and ‘not for profit’, something the council recognised as a sign of quality and strength. We are excited about the partnership and the opportunity to build on the sterling work currently happening at the centre. We are currently working on plans to ensure that the transition from the current operator is as smooth as possible for staff and customers.”
“In the short term we aim to keep business as usual and will work with all current user groups and individuals to ensure that wherever possible we can meet their needs to ensure the centre has a prosperous and sustainable future."
Craven Arms Town Council still owns all its buildings and facilities, and has a say on how they are run and developed. But award-winning social enterprise Halo Leisure is now responsible for managing and maintaining the centre for up to five years - starting on Monday.
Halo is a social enterprise and registered charity. This means that is does not have shareholders and any surplus money is put back into the services and facilities.
