A community hub is set to close next month after its funding was cut.
Graig-y-Rhacca Resource Centre will officially shut its doors on Friday, December 1, after the Welsh Government decision to scrap its flagship Communities First scheme.
Darren Pole, the centre’s chair, said: “Funding cuts have led to some of our services leaving the centre, which in turn has affected cash flow.
“We run a range of services here and they’re popular, but they’re being eroded and it’s going to have a negative impact on the community.
“We want support and clarity from Communities First about our future. There doesn’t seem to be any contingency plan for places like this, and we just want answers.”
The centre, which is run as a social enterprise, has previously provided services including a créche, credit union, doctors surgery, homework club and many others.
Mr Pole added: “The people who rely on us the most are the ones who are going to miss out. People come here to have a chat and have a hot chocolate because they can’t afford to put the heating on in their home.
“We service between 40 and 60 people per day, and don’t have an issue with engaging with the community yet seem to be pushed aside in favour of other places.”
Centre manager Gareth Mitchell had been in post for three-and-a-half years and left on November 3.
He said: “I’ve always been community-orientated and my approach is that the community is the most important thing, so while I’m gutted to be losing my job, I’ll be more gutted for the community to lose this centre.
“It’s not just about giving people a service’s telephone number and passing them on, it’s about providing advice on the spot, and I try to be very honest with them.”
Shirley Williams, a volunteer director, added: “It’s shameful the centre will be taken away considering how much it costs and the effect that it has on people. You can’t compare the two.
“We are not giving up – this is a cry for help. We are planning on protesting in front of T? Penallta [Caerphilly County Borough Council’s headquarters].
“We are stronger together and this is bringing a community closer.”
Caerphilly County Borough Council said members of its staff which are based at the centre had offered to run the centre alongside their official roles.
The authority’s leader, Cllr Dave Poole, said: “Council officers recently met with residents who wish to support the centre on a voluntary basis in partnership with the council, which is very promising news.
“We wish to ensure the centre remains open, and to continue to run the employment support services that are currently located in the centre, so we very much welcome these discussions to establish what we can achieve in partnership.”
Caerphilly AM, Hefin David, added: “The funding from Communities First that currently funds the centre’s running costs is available until March 31 2018, so my understanding is the centre could be open until at least this point.
“It’s in the interests of residents living in Graig-y- Rhacca that the centre remains open after then and I’ve volunteered to engage with local residents about the centre’s long–term future.”
A labour project doomed from the start. Time to put this money to some really good