Interview with Leonie Meikle of Erondu about the Radford Unity Centre
Radfordian | 21.03.2010 11:57 | Culture | Education | Social Struggles
To find out more about what the closure of Radford Unity Centre means to the groups that use it, I got in touch with Erondu, an after school club, that is based there. Leonie Meikle answered my questions.
Can you tell us about what ERONDU does and how it currently uses the Radford Unity Complex?
We provide after school clubs and provide classes during school holidays for children age 8-11. We develop young people's awareness of their history and culture and improve their literacy and numeracy skills. We aim to complement what young people learn in schools. Whilst the project is for african caribbean children, we are inclusive and children from different nationalities attend our programmes. We use office space and meeting rooms in the centre.
How will the closure affect the group and the services you provide?
We will be without office space, meeting rooms and a place to deliver programmes. We operate on a shoestring and cannot afford commercial prices. We have education and play equipment which for which we will have no storage. The management committee will have no where to meet.
What could the City Council do that would help your group to continue?
The groups would like to be given the opportunity to purchase the building for the benefit of the community. Community use of council buildings is a central government policy for which there appears to have no local policy. The City Council could work with us to access funding to improve the condition of the property. Although we have been using the property for a long time in its present state.
How can people in the local community support you?
They can sign the petition send by Shiefton or speak to or write to their local councillors. Our services users could also tell the City Council about the contribution the groups have made.
The Shiefton petition can be found here:
http://petition.shiefton.com/
We provide after school clubs and provide classes during school holidays for children age 8-11. We develop young people's awareness of their history and culture and improve their literacy and numeracy skills. We aim to complement what young people learn in schools. Whilst the project is for african caribbean children, we are inclusive and children from different nationalities attend our programmes. We use office space and meeting rooms in the centre.
How will the closure affect the group and the services you provide?
We will be without office space, meeting rooms and a place to deliver programmes. We operate on a shoestring and cannot afford commercial prices. We have education and play equipment which for which we will have no storage. The management committee will have no where to meet.
What could the City Council do that would help your group to continue?
The groups would like to be given the opportunity to purchase the building for the benefit of the community. Community use of council buildings is a central government policy for which there appears to have no local policy. The City Council could work with us to access funding to improve the condition of the property. Although we have been using the property for a long time in its present state.
How can people in the local community support you?
They can sign the petition send by Shiefton or speak to or write to their local councillors. Our services users could also tell the City Council about the contribution the groups have made.
The Shiefton petition can be found here:
http://petition.shiefton.com/
Radfordian