Open invitation to visit Kirkcaldy's newest community centre

Annette outside the new centre. Pics by George McLuskie

And the long-serving committee which runs the centre has spent the last few weeks since it received the keys to the new centre welcoming back old faces and inviting new ones to come along and join.

The brand new modular building includes a spacious main hall with storage facilities; a smaller hall; a fully-equipped kitchen with three cookers, making it ideal for functions or cookery demonstration and training sessions; modern new toilets including disabled facilities and a wheelchair-friendly entrance area.

It was decided to completely rebuild the community centre, a popular community hub for 65 years, after costings revealed that it would be cheaper to put up a new building rather than upgrade the old one.

Celia Lamb, Jimmy Rushford and Annette Rushford, committee members

Fife Council received a grant of £950,000 from the Scottish Government through the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund for developing the whole of the Gallatown – one of the areas of highest multiple deprivation in the town.

Groups using the community centre were relocated to other halls in the area from May last year while the work was carried out.

Link Up the Gallatown, which is doing a lot of work in the community, moved into the former Happy Days Chinese restaurant building on St Clair Street, and, after refurbishing the building it chose to stay on there, leaving space for other groups to come into the new centre.

It already has groups and organisations from yoga and line dancing to dog training and slimming classes, but spaces are still available on Tuesday and Friday nights for other groups wishing to start up classes or sessions.

Once a month there is a coffee morning to raise funds for trips and treats for the elderly residents in the community, and on the last Friday there is also a charity bingo night with nominations for which charity should receive the money raised for the coming six months.

With many of the current committee having served for a number of years, including Annette Rushford, the current chairman who has been in charge for 11 years, now considering a well-earned rest, new blood would be very welcome.

“Most of the hard work has been done and there’s a beautiful and shiny new centre for new volunteers to take on,” said Annette.

Anyone who is interested in booking the centre or joining the committee can contact Annette on 07903 180566.