Councillors vow to continue community services at the White House after YMCA withdraws.

Councillors have been working together to ensure that residents can still access services provided by the YMCA when they officially withdraws from managing the White House.

Councillor Gareth Roberts, Leader of Richmond Council said: “We are disappointed at the current situation and that the YMCA will not be managing the centre.

“We respect that the trustees of HOTCA have not accepted proposals from the YMCA.

“We know how much the White House as a Community Centre is valued by the communities it serves in the local and surrounding areas and by the Council.”

The Hampton upon Thames Community Association (HOTCA) have vowed to deliver valued community amenities when the YMCA officially hands back the management of the White House in Hampton centre on August 31.

Cllr Roberts, the Council’s spokesperson for Equality, the Communities and the Voluntary Sector, Cllr Michael Wilson and other senior Council officers, held a series of meetings with representatives from both HOTCHA, the YMCA, and the Hampton Fund to discuss the management of the White House.

Throughout the past twelve months Richmond Council facilitated a series of discussions on potential future improvements to the community centre as well as finding ways to meet the needs of locals.

The Council is committed to ongoing engagement with the Hampton community and to working closely with the HOTCA, YMCA and Hampton Fund to ensure the Centre continues to be a place where the local community can engage with services and take part in a range of activities now and in the future.

Cllr Roberts added: “We have been working closely with YMCA, HOTCA and Hampton Fund to ensure that the Centre continues to be a place where the local community can engage with services and take part in a range of activities now and in the future.

“We will continue to work with the HOTCA Trustees so that local people can benefit from this community centre, whilst recognising the financial challenges in the current economic climate.

“The YMCA and the Council will support HOTCA with the transition of management so that users are not adversely affected.”

The YMCA will continue to run Nurserylands Pre-School a service which provides early years provision at the White House.

And it will also remain as part of the Hampton community through its ongoing management of Hampton Pool and the Hampton Youth Project.