Defend a vital local lifeline

Published: August 25, 2011

AS the by-election in Highgate ward approaches we urge all the candidates to ensure that Holly Lodge Community Centre does not close. 

The centre, which just lost its grant from the council, is a vital lifeline to the elderly people living on this estate.

Holly Lodge is situated high up on a steep hill and many elderly people living in sheltered housing here have limited mobility, so the luncheon club and other activities run by the centre are the only chance they get to see other people on a daily basis. 

The much-loved pre-school nursery and the children’s playscheme on Holly Lodge, both of which are extremely well-attended and benefit younger residents greatly, are also likely to close. 

The core grant is a small amount of money – £30,000 – but the loss of this puts at risk much higher sums we have raised to keep these services running. 

The centre is the heart of our community. 

It provides services for all ages: internet access and computer training; a laundry; well-used meeting spaces and a variety of classes including film-making, life-drawing, yoga, judo, film-club and gentle exercise for the over-60s.  

It also works in partnership with a number of other community-based organisations to deliver a range of important services.

We urge all candidates in the by-election to oppose the funding cuts to our centre.
Grace Livingstone & Elizabeth Doherty, Pippa Rothenberg, Tamatha Weisser, Caroline Crockard, Dee Leloup, Anja Hoffman, Zoe Rahman, Sherwood Bissessar, & Hedviga Kuzochova

Years of work

FOR the past eight years I have been running Shakespeare workshops for children at the Holly Lodge Community Centre.

We perform outside in the beautiful Holly Lodge Gardens and the course caters for all types of children, between the ages of seven and 14.

It is a good summer holiday scheme and a wonderful introduction to Shakespeare for children from all backgrounds.  

It would be such a shame and a loss if the community centre closed.

Without it my workshops would have been impossible.

I hope the council reconsider their funding cut.
Lisa Rose
Holly Lodge Drama Workshops