Background
The Malcolm X Community Centre has provided services to the St Paul’s community for many years. Running the centre has always been a challenge for the management team, due to the facilities being split between two buildings. The layout of each building is extremely inefficient, resulting in areas under-utilised. The centre is now working with the Development Trust Association and Bristol City Council to try an exercise a greater level of self-sufficiency.
Bristol City Council anticipates there will be a number of ‘hub’ sites across the city, operated by the voluntary sector, delivering a range of services, including some statutory public services. The Malcolm X Centre has the potential to be one of these hubs. There is a parallel commitment from the Council to support the principle of asset transfer from the Council to the voluntary sector. The Development Trust Association is working with Malcolm X to explore the potential of this asset transfer policy to provide a sustainable future for the centre.
Future
gcp Chartered Architects have been commissioned by the Development Trust Association to develop a feasibility study alongside a business planning exercise being carried out by the community centre. This process is designed to help the centre make decisions over their future development.
The main hall within the Community Centre currently has a 600 standing capacity or a 250 seating capacity, which will be maintained in any development option. The options will aim to improve flexibility and accessibility of the current meeting rooms, I.T suites, offices and kitchens, ensuring a sustainable future for the centre.
