A COMMUNITY association on the brink of a financial crisis is appealing for help.

Durham Community Association, which is based at the Shakespeare Hall, in North Road, is planning a fundraising month and open day to try and drum up the support for the organisation, which has been running for 70 years.

Centre manager David Lindley said: “We are currently experiencing a temporary financial crisis and are looking at ways to bring more money into the centre.

“We have attracted some new usage but we want to draw people in and get support.”

Though the community centre attracts more than 300 users a week, it has struggled since Durham County Council removed grant funding.

The association is getting help from Durham Area Action Partnership (AAP), which has included several grants as well as help and support in setting up new links with other organisations, including Business Durham and Durham University’s Student Union.

AAP coordinator Craig Morgan said: “The building is in a good spot in central Durham. It’s close to the bus station and train station and car parks. A lot of the groups that use the building come from across County Durham.

“There’s a really good set of space at the hall. It’s got meeting rooms, the big hall, small hall and office space. It’s a good location for support groups as well because people can use it quite anonymously.”

The association has been running since 1948 and the building, accessed via a green door half way up North Road, was originally established by the temperance movement, formed in reaction to Durham’s record of drunkenness.

It is still owned by the Shakespeare Temperance Trust, which bought it to open as a tee-total public house.

More than 30 groups meet at the hall, with church goers, artists, dancers, film-lovers, jugglers and crafters among the people to use it.

Arnie Simpson, association chairman, said: “Durham Community Association and Shakespeare Hall offer so much to the people of Durham but some extra support would be welcomed.

“We need new people to hire rooms out and if anyone has any skills to help the management committee we would love to hear from them.”

  • New volunteers or anyone interested in using the gall should call 0191 3842748 or email durhamdca@yahoo.com