A NEW £250,000 facility for community groups in Haslingden is all set to get the go-ahead.

The community resource centre to be based at the former New Thorn pub in Bury Road is expected to open next spring and will provide office, meeting and training room facilities for community and voluntary organisations.

The scheme has the backing of Rossendale Council and the Action for Haslingden Partnership. The project has received £138,000 from the National Lottery and further funding from English Partnership is hoped to be confirmed shortly.

Local groups attended an open evening at Haslingden Community Link to give their ideas on how best the centre would suit their needs.

They were encouraged to make use of the facility which will house computer equipment with Internet access, printers and other equipment so that groups can create powerful publicity and fund-raising notices.

The meeting and training rooms can be used as a drop-in facility to learn more about how to maximise funding opportunities.

Andree Pomfret, community development officer for Action for Haslingden Partnership, said the facility would provide a hugely valuable resource for dozens of organisations throughout Rossendale.

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