JERICHO ECHO ARTICLE
July 1982
Since the last issue of the Jericho Echo came out, several exciting developments have taken place concerning the future of the Institute. As a result, there is a real possibility that the use of the Institute may be handed over to Jericho as its long-awaited Coamunity Centre.
After a series of public meetings in the Church and the Institute, an interim Management Committee "was formed. It commissioned a Feasibility Report on the building's future which was backed by the results of the questionnaire that was sent out to Jericho's residents and businesses in March. The Report was submitted to the City Council in May. It called for the complete renovation of the Institute's ground floor and part of the first floor for community activities.
In order to help pay the Institute's regular bills, the top floor and the rest of the first floor will need to be let for the foreseeable future, possibly as design studios and small craft workshops. The Report estimates the cost of essential building works to be between £50,000 and £60,000, which the Council is being asked to provide as a grant. The Council is expected to announce its decision this month. Our Ward Councillors and various Council officers have been very sympathetic, knowing that this is possibly Jericho's last realistic chance to have a proper Community Centre of its own, but the Council has promised nothing definite yet. It is a lot of money and times are hard, and they want to be sure that there is enough local enthusiasm to justify such expense. As a result, the following activities are to take place and details are given in this issue of the Echo.
A temporary face-lift has already been started at the Institute to encourage people to use the building more. A jumble sale has beenheld this month to raise money for paint and other immediate essentials. And a Community Fair will take place on August Bank Holiday to raise more money and to encourage people to start Clubs and other activities in the Institute. Even the reappearance of the Jericho Echo is a result of this new community effort.
In a nutshell, the Church is offering the use and management of the Institute to the people of Jericho. The Council is being asked to provide the money to make it possible. It is now up to all of us to show that we want this to happen by doing as much for ourselves as possible. Therefore, anyone who would like to donate money, or material, or their time to the Institute face-lift, to Jumble Sales,to the Bank Holiday Fair, or would like to start up any Club or group in the Institute, should drop a note into either the vicarage or the Jericho Echo at 24 Cardigan St. It is largely in our hands to show that we need a Community Centre and that we are prepared to do something about it.
Author: Nigel Hiscock