Volunteers come forward to help save Bonnybridge Community Centre

The centre hosted a packed public meeting on Monday evening in a bid to persuade residents to help take over the centre from Falkirk Council.

At the meeting, Paul Kettrick – a senior manager with Falkirk Council – made clear that if a transfer to community ownership does not go ahead, the building will be demolished by October.

Bonnybridge is one of the biggest and busiest community centres in the Falkirk Council area and is host to dozens of activities, classes and groups for all ages.

But Falkirk Council says a survey shows that repairs costing £1.2 million are urgently needed to the building, so it has brought forward the timescale to transfer or close the building.

Campaigners determined to save the centre organised Monday’s public meeting to gauge support, saying that closing the building is not an option for hundreds of people who use it every week.

Arlene Graham, one of the organisers, said they were delighted at the turnout and also to get so many names.

She said: “We needed to get at least 20 names and we were worried that we wouldn’t get them.

“It’s a big decision for a lot of people to put their names down. It’s a lot for any community to take on, especially a building this size.”

But at the end of the meeting, when they asked for those willing to help to come forward, Arlene says it was an amazing feeling to see a queue form.

She said: “We didn’t think we’d reach the 20. But then everybody started queuing up – see that feeling. It was actually quite touching for us.”

Arlene, along with Jennifer Cochrane and Teresa Cochrane, are members of the management committee that currently runs the centre.

They also run the Happy Mondays, which provides a hot meal and a chance to socialise for as many as 95 people every week. They know first hand the impact closure would have, particularly on the elderly.

But they also run ROOTS, the local food bank, and say taking on the centre would just be too much.

“We’re happy to be part of it but we are hoping other people will take the reins,” said Arlene.

At the meeting, they were touched to hear people speak up for ROOTS and how the work they do is essential to the community.

The next steps will be a working group meeting where volunteers will be talked through the process of a community asset transfer.

They will then have to form a SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation) and work out a business plan and funding.

With 43 names from the meeting, they are still getting messages from people who have been thinking about and are willing to get on board.

They have been particularly looking for volunteers with the skills and experience to keep the centre financially sustainable.

Arlene added: “We’ve had people coming forward with accountancy and business planning skills, so we are quite hopeful.

“It’s a good start – I’m just hoping it continues.”