THE Forest Community Centre's long-term future may be in jeopardy due to a downturn in financial and public support.

It was reported at Wednesday's Whitehill and Bordon Community Association AGM that it had suffered another "very disappointing year" financially and if a solution was not found to address the situation the centre could close.

Andrew Stubberfield, community association treasurer, reported: "Following the £12,500 drop in grant income in 2003-04, we suffered a further drop of £2,335 this year.

"A 14 per cent increase in our costs means that non-grant income only covers 55 per cent of our costs. This has led to our deficit of £10,960 for the year being even higher than forecast in last year's report.

"The nature of the customer base in the Bordon and Whitehill area dictates that significant prices will in the long-term result in lower income due to reduced usage.

"It also means that traditional fundraising efforts produce scant return for the effort required.

"Unless a solution can be found to this problem, the association will run out of funds during 2006 and will be unable to continue to run the community centre."

He felt that both staff and trustees of the association had put in a lot of effort to ensure that the centre provides benefits to the community. However, Mr Stubberfield issued a stark message at the meeting.

"This is not a business and could never be so, and if a decision is not made by those who are charged with providing services, to provide adequate funding then by default, the services will reduce or disappear," Mr Stubberfield warned.

It was reported that grant funding from Whitehill Town Council has decreased from £14,000 in 2004 to £10,000 this year.

Lindsay Kelly, the community association manager, believed that this reduction was caused by the organisation's good "house- keeping".

She added that, as a charity, the association was required to have reserve funding to cover any major maintenance or repairs, but because of this money, grant providers may consider the organisation's financial position to be better than it really is.

Association members accepted the decision of the town council to reduce funding because it believed the grant was sufficient.

Mrs Kelly added: "We appreciate that the town council also has to make savings."

Jo Jordan, the Whitehill and Bordon Community Association chairman said: "For a number of months, the community association has been aware of the funding situation. We recently carried out a presentation on the matter to the EHDC's north east area community committee, but nobody has yet come forward to help resolve the issue.

"It is a complicated situation because as a charity we cannot make a profit, but we have to maintain a reserve fund, so it is a delicate balance, but we are not getting it quite right at the moment."

Liz Panton, who represented East Hampshire District Council at the meeting pointed out that EHDC has not reduced its grant but it has increased in line with inflation.

The community centre hosts a number of key facilities for the town, such as the Citizens' Advice Bureau, Whitehill Town Council, an East Hampshire District Council information point and community transport.

Jo Jordan was very keen to stress the importance of the community centre and what it can and does provide to the people not only of Bordon and Whitehill, but also the surrounding area.

She said: "I have always believed in the ethos of community centres; they provide many things for all residents of towns and villages from the very young to the not so young.

"Young mothers can get together, you can donate blood, hold your family celebrations; follow healthy lifestyle initiatives, vote in local elections and you can even have your passport photos taken.

"All of these events and facilities and many more are available at your community centre; they are there to improve the quality of life and to encourage social interaction.

"Whitehill and Bordon is, in many ways, a challenging environment to work in. We have fewer facilities, so it is important that we enhance what we have."

She said it was imperative that the community was well used, which would help it regain its footing and become self-sufficient.

"We do offer some terrific services but we are falling short. We have been trying to get an internet cafe for the local children, but we are unable to find the staff.

"It is quite frustrating because we have the funding to go ahead with it, but, as yet, nobody has come forward.

"What we need is community support by using the centre, whether it is for information, health or entertainment, just to ensure that the centre is sustainable," said Jo Jordan.

She thought that the centre needed to be better used at weekends for things like parties, which would provide a valuable source of income.

"It is fairly well used, but not so much at weekends, especially for private functions. We have some, but not as many as there really should be," she added.

For further information about the services and facilities provided by the community centre, call 01420 488978.