COMMUNITY RUMPUS AS COLLEGE EXPELS CHARITY

31-07-2007

Anger has erupted over a decision by Matthew Boulton College to expel charities and community groups from one of their buildings in inner city Birmingham. A local resident says they've "reneged on their promises" - a claim the college denies.

MAGNOLIA HOUSE IN HAPPIER TIMES AT ITS LAUNCH IN 2001

The dispute centres on Magnolia House in Highgate which until recently was home to a wide variety of organisations including the Alzheimer’s Society, CASA (the Community Advice Service Advocacy), the African Caribbean Association and a Yemeni group.

Now they’ve all been asked to leave, creating a feeling of betrayal in the community.

Local resident Jackie Brown explains that the Highgate Action Group, of which she was a member, attracted European funding in 2000 to create an enterprise centre in association with the Cheapside Business Group - and that the college suggested they should base it at Magnolia House which it owns.

That meant they got the benefit of a refurbishment grant - in excess of £250,000.

“We could have started our own building, but they seemed keen to work with us and help the community in the long term” says Jackie.

“We had a big launch with Sir Albert Bore and Carl Chinn, and Magnolia House was supposed to become a community access building.

“But bit by bit Matthew Boulton College has taken ownership and they’ve turfed everyone out. The last community group has to be out by August 20.

“I just think it’s unfair that they’ve reneged on their promises.”

Christine Braddock, the principal of Matthew Boulton College has a very different take on events.

She admits that funding was raised - but only for a community access room, which she insists is still available free of charge for the people of Highgate to use for meetings and other events.

And while she doesn’t deny that college is no longer providing cheap or free office space at Magnolia House, she says that’s because it’s become impossible to justify to her funders.

“We get funding from the likes of the Learning and Skills council to provide education, not to subsidise community groups” Braddock told The Stirrer.

“The restriction we have on our funds now means that we are measured by our outputs and they are educational outputs.

“We are aiming to create a community centre where people who want citizenship skills and language and IT skills can get access.”

Braddock insiststhe changes have been made in consultation with the local community.

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