Hopes community group will retain pride of place

EVOLVE HAS GROWN TO HELP THOUSANDS IN NORTH OF CITY

- By JOE LOCKER Local democracy reporter

“WHEN we first started doing this we were given a cheque for £250. Ten years later, look where we are,” says Gary Bulmer, a former police officer who co-founded a community organisation in the north of the city.

Evolve, in the Broxtowe estate, used the £250 from a Rotary Club to become a vital part of the local community, offering people a safe, warm place to take part in events, get job support, or simply be as they are and socialise.

However Mr Bulmer, who says the group now employs eight people to help offer a raft of services for those in need, fears they may need to start cutting back in March when funding is pulled.

The Labour Government has now introduced a new programme, called Pride in Place, which enables communities to take better control over where they believe money should be spent.

Under the programme, the estate and neighbouring Cinderhill will receive £2m each year over the next decade, and a neighbourhood board comprising local people and community leaders will decide where it should be spent.

“Certain things are happening organically, and people are trying to do it, and if [the Government and authorities] can recognise where that it is - you could use that money to fund that and watch it grow,’ Mr Bulmer said.