A community-led charity has taken over the management of their local community centre for six months, to test if it has a long-term future.

At the start of the new year, Hubberston and Hakin Charitable Organisation (CIO) became tenants of Hubberston and Hakin Community Centre, with the consent from the centre's landlords and trustees Pembrokeshire County Council.

Over two years ago, the community centre was under threat of closure, when the council decided it could no longer afford the building's running costs.

More than a hundred people attended a public meeting to voice their concerns when they learnt the centre's doors might close.

As a result, stalwart volunteers delivered a council-hosted questionnaire to every household in Hubberston and Hakin, asking residents' views about the centre's future.

The survey revealed that the centre was valued as a focus for a range of activities, with a lunch club one of the top priorities.

In January 2016, the Big Lottery-funded Invest Local programme was launched in Hubberston and Hakin, bringing £1 million for the community to spend on its priorities over ten years.

The community decided to use some of this money to support and save this vital community asset.

The CIO trustees' acting chairman Norma Barlow said: "I would like to thank all the volunteers, trustees, and supporters who have worked so hard and for so long to reach this point."

The trustees are looking forward to the spring redecoration of the centre's interior thanks to volunteers from Tesco and South Hook LNG.

The centre already hosts a range of regular community activities. Details can be found on https://www.facebook.com/HHCYC/ 


New users are very welcome. To make a booking, contact Norma on 01646 692789, or 07810012391, or email: hhcommunitycentre73@gmail.com