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ISMB agreed unanimously in July 2008 to move to Community Governance in one go rather than a phased approach.
Highfields Centre has made a steady recovery from the 2004 position to one where we now have:
A larger number of Adult Education classes running, Under Five's nursery running to capacity with a waiting list
After Schools Club running to capacity with a waiting list
Youth Clubs re-opened but not yet open 7 days week
Sports sessions (Gym, Sports Hall, Aerobics) started and beginning to grow
Arts, Audio Visual and Performance sessions started and beginning to grow
H-MAC services launched to help overcome barriers that people face when looking for jobs, including childcare, disability, transport, immigration or benefits.
Member organisations of HCA growing take up of services and facilities
We are committed to promoting Leicester City Council's Equal Opportunities Policy.
We are committed to developing Highfields into a vibrant, healthy, confident and socio-economically prosperous community.
Highfields Centre opened in 1974 as a community centre, to enable the Highfields Community Association to provide social and recreational activities for local residents.
Over the years, the Centre's work developed and progressed to offering a full range of lifelong and community development services delivered 7 days a week (including evenings). An all year round service with Centre closures were kept to a minimum. Children and young people were at the heart of our programme.
An established centre of excellence commended by its users and OFSTED, Pre-School Learning Alliance (PLA), Matrix, Community Legal Services (CLS) and the Office for Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC). Decisions made by Leicester City Council (LCC) in 2004 undid all this.
In 2006, LCC Cabinet made a decision to bring Highfields Centre under Community Governance established the Interim Strategic Management Board (ISMB) which is comprised of a 3-way partnership with the City Council (Local Ward Councillors), External Funders (Government Office East Midlands, Sport England, Learning and Skill Council and East Midlands Development Agency) and Highfields Community Association (HCA) with delegated powers to make recommendations and decisions and facilitated by Development Trust Association as part of a national Asset Transfer programme.
