Efforts to restore hub to ‘former glory’ under way
doors every week to being ‘more or less empty’.
Coun Debra Waller, of the Sandhill ward, is working closely with Sunderland North Community Business Centre, which runs the centre, and local residents to restore Thorney Close Action and Enterprise Centre to its ‘former glory’.
They have already brought the volunteer-led Clean and Green environmental programme to the facility in recent months and now aim to press on with plans to re-introduce a receptionist and re-open the café.
Coun Waller said: “This is the closest thing Thorney Close has to a community centre and it’s sad to see how far it has fallen over the past 13 or so years.
“It’s at the point now where the majority of people just walk past and think it’s closed.
“This used to be a bustling community hub with events, a popular café and people accessing various types of support, from job vacancies to family and health advice.
“It still plays host to children’s karate, ju-jitsu and kickboxing lessons, but that’s about it.
“If we get the funding to re-open the café and reintroduce a receptionist, this will really help make it more welcoming and alleviate stress from the organisations currently operating from the centre.
“There’s no reason why this can’t once again become a bustling community hub.
“While we’ll actively look to raise the finance we need, we’ll also be calling on the local community to play their part in helping to raise awareness of the hub and support its organisations.”
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness said during a visit to the centre this week: “When we invest in public services like this, give young people things to do and invest in children right from their early years, it’s proven to reduce crime rates in our areas.”