Although community centres are helping those struggling with rising food and energy prices, they are also grappling with the prospect of rent increases themselves and are worried about impact that will have. Nottingham City Council are to raise community centre rents by £10 a year to 'market rates.' There are 38 community centres operating across the city and the running costs are in the thousands.
Maria Shakespeare, the Chair for the Crabtree Farm community centre in Bulwell, has spoken out about what the cost of living means for the Crabtree estate community. Maria, who runs a food bank and a community centre café, has had no other choice but to slightly raise her already low prices for food.
Maria, who has been recognised for her community work and received an MBE in 2021, said: “When things are rising so rapidly, why are the Government coming up with phrases such as ‘the cost of living?’ They [the government] love making up phrases but there are no actions to help people. We’ve had to raise the prices for the community café but we’re trying to do it not as much.”
