Hopes Edinburgh community centre can secure "crucial" emergency funding
"The neighbourhood centre has been at the heart of the community in Drylaw for 25 years now."
The City of Edinburgh Council is being urged to provide emergency funding for a community hub in the Capital.
Drylaw neighbourhood centre hosts a number of clubs and events in an area that has very little other facilities available.
The centre’s management committee warns that without this funding it will have to close its doors this summer, leaving a gaping hole in the heart of the community.
Now SNP Councillor for Inverleith, and Drylaw resident, Vicky Nicolson has put a motion to full council asking for £40,000 for the centre.
The meeting will take place tomorrow (June 30).
The management hope to secure the cash to help 'keep the lights on' as they explore other avenues of funding.
Cllr Nicolson said:
"The neighbourhood centre has been at the heart of the community in Drylaw for 25 years now. It would be a hammer blow to the area to lose it now.
"The management committee has been working with council officers to identify other sources of funding and they have made applications for grants. But the situation is now at a crucial stage – without this bridging money from the council, the management committee have been clear that the centre could have to close its doors forever.
"Labour were very vocal during the recent election campaign that a vote for them would result in help for the neighbourhood centre. Labour are now leading the administration so it’s time for them to show if they are true to their word.
"This crucial funding from the council would allow breathing space for other money to come in and for the neighbourhood centre’s finances to be put on an even keel. The Labour administration has to do the right thing."
We've asked the Council's Labour administration if they plan to back the motion.