Group seeks review of transfer process for Falkirk community centre

Falkirk Thornhill Community Hall SCIO (FTCH) is one of two groups hoping to take ownership of Thornhill Community Centre from Falkirk Council through a Community Asset Transfer.

Both FTCH and the Rainbow Muslim Women’s Group (RMWG) submitted applications for the process, which have been considered by the council over the last few months.

Initially councillors delayed a decision on the applications in the hope that the two organisations could work together to jointly run the centre.

However, despite mediation efforts it was found that that was not possible. Councillors then agreed to a three month extension to allow more time for the groups to look at finding a way to share governance of the facilities. The RMWG have since said they do not agree to the extension.

Now, FTCH say they are exercising their statutory right to request a formal review under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.

The group say their position is clear. Their preferred outcome is approval of FTCH’s application, securing Thornhill Community Centre as “an inclusive and sustainable facility for the whole community".

However if Falkirk Council considers shared governance preferable, FTCH “remains willing to consider a genuine equal 50/50 arrangement established through a robust legal structure, with equal representation, equal decision-making, transparent finances and protection for all community users”.

Both Community Asset Transfer applications were assessed as strong by Falkirk Council, with only a marginal difference between them.

In its application, FTCH provides RMWG and its service users a dedicated anchor tenancy within the centre, securing their continued place in the building while also protecting the wider range of groups, services and activities using it.

The group say RMWG was offered this protected anchor tenancy before the current licence arrangements were introduced. The offer was initially accepted but was later declined after RMWG became the Full Repairing and Insuring licence holder.

FTCH say transferring the centre solely to the other applicant would “displace” FTCH from the building it was established to manage and require the charity to find alternative premises.

The charity says some groups have already left the centre, some are temporarily displaced and wish to return if FTCH secures the centre or a 50/50 arrangement is established, and some are considering if they can remain under the current arrangements.

They say the future of the groups and activities using the centre must be properly considered as part of any decision about the centre.

When the two applications were considered by Falkirk Council’s executive in August, an equal 50/50 governance model was proposed by FTCH. Councillors voted to allow a three month extension so both organisations could explore a joint arrangement.

FTCH agreed to the extension, but RMWG did not, with the opportunity to develop a joint model unable to proceed without the agreement of both parties.

FTCH say that despite repeated offers of collaboration, RMWG has not agreed to their proposals for shared governance.

A spokesperson for Falkirk Thornhill Community Hall SCIO said: “FTCH was created specifically to manage and protect Thornhill Community Centre for the local community. We do not believe that our charity, or the established groups and services it supports, should be displaced by transferring the whole centre solely to another organisation.

“Our application provides the Rainbow Muslim Women’s Group with a protected anchor tenancy and continued security within the centre. It protects RMWG and its users while also protecting the interests of existing and future community users.

“We remain willing to consider a genuine equal 50/50 governance model through a robust legal structure. Both applications were assessed as strong, and we believe FTCH’s application or a properly established equal arrangement would provide a fairer, more inclusive and more sustainable future for Thornhill Community Centre.

“The community deserves to hear both sides and to understand that FTCH has consistently proposed solutions which include RMWG without displacing the local charity and the wider community it serves.”

FTCH is now exercising its statutory right to request a formal review under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.

A public petition supporting FTCH’s whole-community application, or a legally protected equal 50/50 governance arrangement if the Council prefers that option, has attracted more than 400 verified signatures and continues to grow.

Supporters are being asked to sign by Saturday, September 26, 2026, ahead of the formal review deadline on Monday, September 28, 2026.

The petition can be found at https://www.change.org/p/time-is-running-out-protect-the-whole-community-support-falkirk-thornhill-charity