Campaign launched to save community hubs

Three community hubs in Northampton closed due to lack of funding on 8 July

Campaigners are demanding the permanent reopening of community hubs that were closed without notice.

Northampton Against Cuts has urged West Northamptonshire Council to take over Semilong, Briar Hill, and Bellinge community hubs, which closed on 9 July but have since been reopened by volunteers with support from donations.

Jo Morris, who previously managed the spaces in Northampton, said: "I want to use my time to support my staff team and our service users, not be constantly on my laptop chasing donations and meeting with different funding sources."

The council said funding for the hubs had come to an end.

The Community Engagement Hub Programme, operated by Community Spaces Northampton (CSN), was originally launched with grant funding to help tackle isolation following lockdowns.

It continued for more than 18 months using the charity's own limited resources after core support from West Northamptonshire Council ended.

Campaigners issued a list of demands, including that the council permanently funded and ran the hubs and that staff made redundant were re-employed on fair terms.

The council said it was not involved in funding CSN outside of the grant or in how it operated.

The campaigners also called for a worker- and union-led investigation into the financial handling of the hubs under CSN.

Katie Simpson, chair of Northampton Against Cuts, said: "Staff, volunteers and service users have a right to know what has happened to the funding for the hubs."

A council spokesperson said: "The funding in question was from a grant allocated to support with the impact post-pandemic, focusing on mental wellbeing and tackling insolation.

"This funding grant came to an end. However, since 2021, CNS have received over £153,000 in grant funding via various funding pots to support a number of programmes and initiatives."