A free children’s centre in the heart of the East End is facing an uncertain future over the renewal of its lease and a consquent drop in financial support.
The Attlee Centre in Whitechapel, which houses an adventure playground and youth club, has been attempting to negotiate a new lease with Tower Hamlets Council since June 2023 without success.
The centre and its supporters presented a 371-signature petition to the council on October 2 asking for the lease to be renewed, which runs out in May 2026. The meeting agreed that a decision would be made before the lease ended and the centre would receive a written response to the petition within 28 days – but so far there has been no response.
Tower Hamlets council has not responded to ELL’s requests for comment.
A spokesperson for the Attlee Centre said: “Thousands of children who have grown up playing in our playground are bringing their own children back, so we must have been doing something right. We’ve seen generations play, learn and develop here.” The centre says it gets about 2,200 visits from children every year.
The petition states: “The Attlee Centre has been a cornerstone of our community, providing invaluable services and support to children, young people and families since 1982 as the first inclusive adventure playground in the borough.
“Without a lease, the centre is unable to secure funding to continue its services which are all free at the point of access. Without funding, it will have to close. Its closure would have a profound and negative impact on countless lives in the local community.”
The spokesperson added: “The children need this service, if we weren’t here what would happen to the kids, where would they play, where would they meet people and try new things?
“Crime, darkness, cost, all of those things have an effect on children playing out, if we weren’t there, where would they go.”
The centre is already facing cash problems. Three of its play structures have been closed due to “rotting inside out.” Repairing the structures would cost at least £180,000, on top of the usual running costs.
As a free service the centre is dependent on financial donors. Millions of pounds were fund-raised to build the centre. But due to the lease uncertainty, contributions have now dropped.
The spokesperson said the centre was confident that with a long-term lease it can secure the funding needed for repairs and said the ideal response from the council would be the longest lease possible on peppercorn rent. They have been paying £10 a year throughout their 25-year lease.
The spokesperson said that the Attlee Centre’s service is reliant on their space. “If we haven’t got a site, then how are we going to deliver?”
Published originally on East London Lines by Chloe Mansola/ November 26, 2024 Link to original article