How NAVCA member Up For Yorkshire saved their community centre

One of the many strengths of local infrastructure organisations is their ability to build and sustain positive and effective partnerships to support their communities. In this blog post, we tell the story of how NAVCA member Up for Yorkshire saved a community asset for residents in Selby. Keep reading to find out more.

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Brayton Community Centre in North Yorkshire has always been an independent charity, and an important part of the local community. However, after the departure of a few trustees and key staff members in 2021, the centre was in a precarious position. Closing the community centre would mean many individuals and communities would lose a valuable space for meetings and activities.

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As a trusted partner with a long and successful track record of running and supporting community buildings, spaces, and projects, Up for Yorkshire (the local infrastructure organisation for Selby in North Yorkshire) was approached for help by Brayton Parish Council in 2021.

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Up for Yorkshire held a local campaign, an open evening and meetings with the Parish Council and stakeholders to explore the future of the centre. It was clear from the feedback that people in the area wanted the centre and its premises to be available for the community, but that there was no appetite from local volunteers to run the centre. Following this community consultation, Up For Yorkshire agreed to take over the governance of the building, protecting it as an invaluable community asset.

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Up For Yorkshire’s networks with stakeholders and the wider VCSE sector were key in getting Brayton Community Centre back up and running in a sustainable way. The centre became a hub for various local groups and organisations offering many different services, including an advice drop-in evening in response to the cost of living crisis, and local action groups with representatives from the school, police, council and parish council.

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However, there were some challenges to deal with. Recent vandalism and antisocial behaviour had resulted in damage to the building. To find a solution, Up for Yorkshire reached out to residents and young people, followed by a meeting with the police, North Yorkshire Council, the Parish Council and youth services, to tackle the need for more youth provision within the Selby area. The result was the launch of YO8 Youth Club, run in partnership with Flying Futures. With help from the Police Commissioners Fund, the club provided a channel for youth boredom to help young people feel more engaged with the community, which led to a marked reduction in instances of vandalism. Up for Yorkshire are now also working with all agencies to co-design and enhance the centre’s space, and there are plans to appoint a youth worker to be based on site.

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Up for Yorkshire’s collaborative and co-design approach has enabled seldom heard voices to participate and shape the future youth offer at Brayton Community Centre, and foster positive long-term relationships and ongoing community ownership of this community asset. The Centre and its story attracted attention and support from Look North and BBC York, and was featured in their primetime shows. It’s great to see recognition of high quality local infrastructure, which is further demonstrated by Up For Yorkshire’s LIQA accreditation.

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To find out more about how the LIQA has enabled Up For Yorkshire to demonstrate their value to stakeholders, NAVCA members can join our free webinar on 27th November, 2pm - 3:15pm. We will hear directly from members who have been through the process, and there will be opportunities to ask questions.

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Book your place via the NAVCA website.

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For more information on the LIQA, contact us at quality@navca.org.uk for an informal chat, or go to our Quality Accreditation page to find out more.

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