Tour tackles 'myths' surrounding Barnard Castle community centre

A COMMUNITY centre leader has sought to dispel some “myths” with a tour for town councillors.

Rachel Tweddle, manager of the TCR Hub, welcomed members of Barnard Castle Town Council to Shaw Bank last week to tell them about some of the work her team was up to.

Councillors previously expressed concerns that The Hub is too far away from the town to draw people in.

But Ms Tweddle revealed the centre welcomed 500 people a week and had branched out from its youth focussed beginnings.

She said: “Over the years things have changed – we started on the youth side and we’ve become more of a community centre.

“I would not say we are underused – that’s a big misconception of the town.

“We have three part-time managers and ten music teachers who come here.

“There is still an idea that it’s just for young people but it’s not – when it opened there was a big song and dance about it being £5million for young people and people still have that in their heads.”

Ms Tweddle added that 15 small enterprises use the site with groups using The Hub for meetings and conferences.

Schools from the North East visiting The Hub have also become more prevalent in recent years and Ms Tweddle also revealed the centre’s relationship with GlaxoSmithKline had strengthened.

She added: “Glaxo are having a big celebration here next week – they are a company we have been trying to work with for quite a while.”

Council members discussed putting on more music events for young people in the town at a partnership committee meeting last month.

Some councillors were surprised by what they found at The Hub on their fact finding mission. Cllr Ian Kirkbride said he didn’t know the centre had accommodation.

He added: “I have been here two or three times but I had not seen the extent of it and the sheer range.

“If you get the kids here you’ll get the adults here.”

Ten new high ropes coaches are to be trained at the centre in the coming weeks.

But a lack volunteers and coaches for some facilities at The Hub does sometimes prove to be a stumbling block.

Ms Tweddle explained: “We could fill the BMX track every day but we do not have the coaches because it can be quite an expensive sport to get into and it is quite niche.”

An open day costing £3 will be held on Saturday, August 19 from 10am until 3pm with taster sessions included in the entry price and access to the Hub’s studios.

Those aged four and under go free.