URGENT meetings are being held to secure emergency funding for the Whitehill and Bordon Community Association (WBCA), in order to keep the organisation afloat until the next financial year. The association, which runs the Forest Community Centre, is facing serious financial difficulty and will need to cover a deficit of £6,000 within the year in order to continue operating. Following cuts to funding from Whitehill Town Council, the WBCA has been forced to use reserve funds it had in place, with the knowledge that the reserves would only last for three years. At the annual general meeting of the association last week, treasurer Andrew Stubberfield told the committee: "Three years ago I indicated that the association's reserves would be extinguished within three years in the absence of additional secure funding. "Now despite all the efforts of the loyal staff and the trustees our reserves are in deficit and we have been unable to secure adequate funding. "There can only be one result of this position, namely that the association will have to surrender its lease on the community centre and close all its operations here. We will have to do this by Christmas in order to discharge our obligations to staff." However, the treasurer's report was deemed to be 'the worst case scenario' by chairman Jo Jordan, and following a meeting with the local council, the situation is looking more hopeful. On Monday a round-table meeting was held between members of the WBCA, county councillor Adam Carew, East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) and HCC. Chairman of the WBCA, Jo Jordan said: "We are confident that the WBCA will not close. Hampshire County Council and EHDC have both agreed that it would be unthinkable. If they were in any doubt they would have asked for their money back." Adam Carew said: "I was contacted by WBCA and have spoken urgently to Hampshire County Council's recreation and heritage department and the community section of EHDC. "I am organising a meeting of all levels of local government with WBCA to discuss the current funding situation and agree a strategy for recovery. I am confident that we can agree a way forward. "There are questions about funding, but we are now taking steps to reorganise and restructure the association." This year, EHDC has increased its annual grant to the organisation to £21,000. An annual grant of £1,500 was also received from Hampshire County Council, although this amount is said to be significantly lower than those received by other community centre associations in Hampshire. Adam Carew said: "HCC awarded WBCA with £1,500, which we felt was unacceptable." A grant application has been made to Whitehill Town Council, and the matter will be considered at their next full meeting. The WBCA raises two thirds of its revenue through bookings and events, but relies on grants to make up the deficit. With future plans in place, it is hoped that the centre can continue to lease the community centre and provide a place of work for the Citizen's Advice Bureau, the Whitehill Town Council, EHDC information point and Community Transport. Centre manager Lindsay Kelly has written to seven independent funding bodies in the hope of covering the shortfall, while at the same time has been helping to organise new initiatives to attract greater numbers of visitors. The new initiatives include the Bordon Bands Night, which has been deemed a success following the launch on Saturday. The WBCA is hoping to secure help to devise a new business plan and agree a way forward with the help of officers from Hampshire County Council. Also involved in the talks are Business Link, and Community First. The next round-table meeting will be held in late November.
