Community hub closure fears over boiler bills

A community centre which provides a warm space and aids those in food poverty is under threat of closure.

Charity workers at the Salaam Centre in Hartlepool said its boiler was on the brink of breaking down and it would cost £3,000 to replace.

The Big League CIC, which runs the hub, said the local community had rallied and raised half the money, but all "hands were on deck" to raise the rest.

Manager Nancy Pout said a functioning boiler was "imperative for our survival as a community centre".

She said the charity had been told the boiler would not last much longer and could no longer afford repair costs.

"Without this money the doors would have to close, because we wouldn't have the heating and the hot water, we would not be able to operate," Ms Pout said.

"We can't offer the warm space that we need to help our community."

The centre, which opens on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, welcomes about 1,000 people every month who are struggling with spiralling fuel bills and the cost-of-living.

Ms Pout is urging people to pop in and "see the work that we do" and make a small donation if they can afford it.

"We're not asking a lot, we're not asking people to give us all of their money, or spend more than they can afford.

"That is not what we are about, we just want people to come together and be the community that we are," she added.

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