PEOPLE from Bacup and Stacksteads are invited to join a steering committee to ensure a community centre delivers courses and activities they want to see.

Sunnycrest Community Centre, on the Pennine Road Estate in Bacup, has taken over a block of four houses, part of which was a former homeless hostel.

Currently the centre is running basic computer courses and has set up a gardening group with the help of Accrington and Rossendale College and funding from the Bacup and Stacksteads SRB Partnership.

Artist Christine Worswick is also running a community mural project to brighten up the interior of the hostel and bring the garden indoors.

Project worker Derek Allen, who is also chairman of the partnership, said the people undertaking the courses received a certificate at the end and the confidence to take learning further.

Derek said: "Our aim is that in five years when the SRB funding ceases we will be able to walk away from this building and leave it in the care of a management group who will look after things."

The centre also runs a furniture scheme and is looking into setting up a tool library and possibly a baby clothes and equipment library.

A steering group is being established to take the project forward and anyone interested can phone 01706 870386 or call at the centre at 78 Pennine Road.