Community hub supporting local business turns 10

Centre manager Nicola Welham said the centre now has a waiting list of groups looking for space

A charity that turned a former secondary school into a hub for businesses and community groups is celebrating 10 years in operation - with a growing waiting list.

The Charles Burrell Centre (CBC) in Thetford, Norfolk, opened in 2015 with five tenants - and now has 62 and interest from many more.

The centre offers a community supermarket, café and toy library, as well as businesses including beauticians, a travel agent and a gym.

In the past year the CBC, itself a charity, had to increase rents in a bid to manage the rising costs of running the site.

John Williams runs NotJustTravel from the Charles Burrell Centre and says the rent is much more affordable than a high street location

Centre manager Nicola Welham said there had been challenges over the years but she was proud of the staff and volunteers who made it work.

"It is so much more than a building it has become the heart of the community," she said.

The challenges of maintaining the old building and managing rising gas and electricity costs meant rents had increased in the past year.

The centre's website shows rooms are available from £125 per month - with the main hall rentable by the hour.

Kat Carter started her fostering agency at the Charles Burrell and still regularly hires space for training and social sessions

The CBC was established on the former Thetford Academy site, which relocated in 2013.

There are plans to develop the former school grounds into a community garden, offering allotments for locals.

'Wonderful facility'

John Williams runs NotJustTravel from room 78 at the CBC. He said his customers liked to see someone face-to-face.

"I can't see me moving out," he said.

"This has been great. It's easy for the customers to park and for me it is just five minutes from my home."

He said a comparable space on the high street would be much more expensive without the free parking.

Kat Carter started her fostering agency Soundly Fostering at the CBC. Though the business grew too large to remain at the centre, she still regularly uses its rooms for training sessions.

"The building is fantastic," she said.

"We're using it every month and it's a wonderful facility with lots of different businesses here.

"It's just a lovely community feel".

Ms Welham said she was confident the centre would still be supporting local business in another 10 years.

"There is such a need for the things we provide from a charity point of view," she said.

"Equally we have successful businesses here which will remain operating here."