A COMMUNITY Centre in Darlington is thriving after transferring ownership from council to community.

Red Hall Community Centre has increased its profits from £6,000 to £25,000 since volunteers took over in 2012.

The centre was given to the community when the council could no longer pay maintenance costs on the building. The grant the centre depended on ceased, and the council funded club and Sure Start services were reduced to one day a week from five.

Committee member Martin Landers said: “At the time the building wasn’t doing very well. It was barely making five or six grand a year and running costs were about £20,000.”

“I suggested that we make a go of the community centre and come up with a really good business plan to run it properly. We agreed that we should invest in the business instead of retracting and getting scared.

“Community Centres need to think of themselves as a business, The Centres serve as catalysts for creating stronger, safer and happier communities. They provide spaces where people of all ages and backgrounds can go to participant in a number of social, educational and recreational activities that enable them to reach their full potential and enjoy a better quality of life.”

Since the takeover the building has been the venue for several campaigns including the national #iwill campaign, which is working with the community centre to empower the town’s young people through youth social action.

The building is also home to 12 community groups including the Friends of Red Hall, a group of residents passionate about improving the area.