Tag: West Granton Community Trust

The Action Group take ownership of The Prentice Centre

The Action Group have taken ownership of The Prentice Centre from the West Granton Community Trust (WGCT), following a Community Asset Transfer after the WGCT announced their closure in June 2022. 

With almost 50 years supporting people across Edinburgh, the Lothians and Falkirk with disabilities, and their families and carers, The Action Group have a many of long standing connections with people across North Edinburgh, and have been based in Leith since 1976. 

Stephen Oliver, Chair of the Board for The Action Group, said: “This is an exciting change for us as an organisation, and we hope to develop an inclusive community hub, for those we support, and our staff, now and in the future.

“We are looking forward to a positive  future at The Prentice Centre, and are privileged to be able to build on the connections and partnerships, forged by WGCT over many years. We are so grateful to their members, staff and Management committee for working with us so positively on this transfer. We are proud to go forward with their blessing.”

Community Hub Manager for the Prentice Centre, Moira Fenning, said: “It was an extremely difficult decision taken by the West Granton Community Trust, to wind down the charity after serving the local community for 30 years.

“However, the transition of finding new owners for the building, was made much easier by seeing the amazing work carried out by the Action Group, and the exciting future plans they have for the Prentice Centre.

“We would like to take this opportunity to wish them every success in their future work within the community.”

Lisa Williamson, Development Manager for The Action Group, said: ‘The possibilities and opportunities that this move will give us are very exciting.

“We are looking forward to forming new partnerships within the local community, and working on collaborative projects with organisations both locally and across the city, to provide services and spaces for people with additional support needs, their families, and carers.”

The Action Group intend to have the centre up and running within a few months and will initially retain the name The Prentice Centre.

CEO of The Action Group, Linda Tuthill, said: “The Prentice Centre was named after Walter Prentice, a longstanding local activist.

“It was an easy decision for us to choose to continue his legacy for the time being and retain his name on the building, together with our own name: The Action Group @ The Prentice Centre.”

The Action Group ownership was finalised on February 6th.

PRENTICE CENTRE CLOSURE CONFIRMED

West Granton Community Trust Management Committee Decision

WGCT has issued the following statement:

At a meeting of the West Granton Community Trust Management Committee on Monday 18th June, the decision made on 27th June to wind up the Trust was confirmed.  This will mean the permanent closure of the Prentice Centre.  

It has been reported in the press that the City of Edinburgh Council were considering providing us with a one off grant of £50,000, however with no confirmation of the process to secure this funding nor the timescales involved, the Trust has been left with no alternative but to proceed with the winding up of the Trust. 

This is to ensure the orderly transfer of the premises to another charitable organisation and to meet our responsibilities to our tenants, staff and the community. 

This is in line with the Constitution of the Trust and the legal requirements associated with the closure of an organisation with charitable status.

The Management Committee would like to thank our loyal members for their support over the years and assure them that we have done everything within our power to avoid this situation. 

Given our current financial situation and with no guarantee of long-term funding for staff and overheads, we can no longer operate as a Trust.

Following the suspension of activities at the Prentice Centre on 1 July, there will be no further access for community use.  Staff will remain on site until mid-October to care for the building and to manage the process of winding up the Trust.

A sad day indeed for staff, management committee, members, patrons and the wider North Edinburgh community …

Save our Centre!

Prentice Centre calls for community support

Public meeting tonight

sos

Following our Public Meeting on 9 March, we have still not secured any more funding from the Council. This is despite assurances from local elected councillors who attended the meeting.

As a result we are holding another Public Meeting on Wednesday 27 April 2016 at 7pm in the Prentice Centre and have invited the same councillors. We would appreciate your support in attending this meeting.