Priya Thamotheram, Head of Centre, Highfields Community Association

Highfields Centre, 96 Melbourne Road, Leicester, LE2 0DSTel: 0116 253 1053;

Email: priya.thamotheram@highfieldscentre.ac.uk www.highfieldscentre.ac.uk

Highfields Community Association – Being determined, Overcoming obstacles, Making a positive difference to individuals, their families and their communities & Learning lessons

Being determined

• A near 14 year journey • First funding application in December 1996 • Raising £5m from Sport England, Learning & Skills Council, East Midlands

Development Agency and Government Office East Midlands• Formal agreement in May 2001 by local authority to proceed with project• New Highfields Centre built - July 2002 to August 2004 • Achieved transfer of the building and the arts, advice, sports &

community services & staff (December 2010)!

Overcoming obstacles

• No provision in HCA constitution for taking responsibility for Highfields Centre• Council’s VAT partial exemption limit likely to be exceeded by £5m project• Need for 10 year business plan• Initially, lease term for 3 years only• HCA to pay £84k per annum rental fee• Services to be provided via a gap funding agreement, with any surplus returned to

Council• Services need to be tendered in accordance with European Union regulations• Transferred staff’s pensions to be underwritten by HCA securing a £75k pension bond

Making a positive difference...

• A wide range of quality services - arts, advice, early years, children, youth, adult learning, sports, cafeteria & community development – all under one roof & located in the heart of the community

• Nationally accredited adult learning courses –from literacy, numeracy & English for Speakers of Other Languages to Access to Higher Education and Certificate in Advice Work (linked to De Montfort, Leicester & Derby Universities)

• August 1997 – Celebrating Diversity and Unity in the Community – pre-community cohesion!

• First Multi-Access Centre in Leicester – over 80 local people into employment

• Community Anchor – initiating area wide consideration of local services via Highfields Area Forum & other local service forums, leading to production of Highfields Area Plan

• Future Jobs Fund - 41 young people into employment as arts, sports, children, youth, reception, catering and community development workers, with 20 supporting 9 local projects

• Abdul Osman – from local youth club member through to university via Access course, Careers Guidance advisor, ex-HCA Chair, ex-Cabinet Lead for Regeneration & Transport and now Lord Mayor!

To individuals, their families & their communities

Lessons to be learnt

• Seeing is believing – open invitation to visit Highfields Centre• Double devolution, localism, neighbourhood management and now Big Society

but policy implementation at local authority level needs suitably empowered & independent regional/national champions

• Be determined and not afraid, get stuck in, keep your team & supporters updated, seek help & tell your story

• Celebrate success