After eighteen months of hard work behind the scenes by the trustees of both Harrogate Community House Trust (HCH) and HARCVS, responsibility for the ownership and management of Harrogate Community House has now been transferred to HARCVS. 

Discussions about new arrangements for the operation of the building commenced when longstanding and much loved Community House Manager Errol Levine indicated his intention to retire on a certain big birthday.  Errol was involved with the local voluntary sector for decades, being the first Volunteer Bureau Manager in Ripon and starting the Time Together Scheme in the early 1990s.

HARCVS trustees Kevin Douglas and John Fox worked closely with HCH trustees Peter Wood and Trevor Wright to carry out the detailed work involved in completing the transfer successfully.

The purpose of HCH has always been to promote and improve the effectiveness of charities by providing them with affordable premises and facilities in Harrogate.  Just as important has been the concept of Community House as a ONE-STOP centre for members of the public seeking advice and assistance from local charities and to promote co-operation between such organisations.

HCH Chair of Trustees Peter Wood says that his board recognised the clear fit between the objectives of HCH and HARCVS when they started to explore options for the future operation of the building; “We’ve always worked closely with HARCVS and this seemed an obvious next step to take, to ensure the continued success of this facility in Harrogate”.

Chair of HARCVS John Fox explained “HARCVS is honoured and excited to have taken on the role of looking after this much loved home for voluntary and community sector groups and supporting all the tenants and visitors”.

He added “Since Harrogate Community House opened in 1997 HARCVS has always provided the reception service for the building and it’s been a really good partnership with HCH. We were pleased to be invited to explore ways of working together even more closely and we felt that for both charities the time was right to take that next step of merging the two organisations and benefiting from the opportunities that brings.

HARCVS thanks and acknowledges all the hard work and support given by all HCH trustees and Errol Levine which has resulted in a well-used building which has been maintained to a high standard and kept up to date to meet the need of tenants. Karen Weaver and her team are very much looking forward to building on these sound foundations and ensuring the building goes from strength to strength over the years to come”.

On a day to day basis it is very much business as usual and the friendly and knowledgeable HARCVS reception team will continue to support tenants and meeting room users and meet and greet the many visitors to the building every week.

If you would like more information about the office accommodation and fully equipped meeting rooms available at Harrogate Community House please visit  www.harrogatecommunityhouse.org or contact our reception team on 01423 503700 and they will be happy to help.