Camborne Community Centre has been awarded £5,000 to help restore two rooms. 

BID Camborne has received the Town Deal funding from the government as the organisation is the administrators of the Project A-Void scheme. 

A partition wall between the rooms has been demolished and a large amount of rubbish removed. Camborne Community Centre is the 100th recipient of a Town Deal grant to transform Camborne’s town centre. 

Jean Charman, the chair of the trustees, said: “Camborne Community Centre is a historical building that was once used as a residence for the steward of the Basset family of Tehidy. 

“The slightly lower wing that we wanted to refurbish was used as the Tehidy estate office from 1855 to 1945 and people used to come there four times a year to pay their rent.  

“We think the area also housed the estate archives after they were moved from Tehidy House in the 1850s. 

“It’s a particularly desirable space as there is a separate entrance, but the existing two rooms were small and unusable.  

“Now we’ve got one good-sized room that can be rented out to clients, especially those who want more privacy. As a self-funded facility, that means increased revenue for the centre – something that is very important to us at a time of mounting fuel bills and ongoing repairs. 

“The centre was given to residents of Camborne in 1937 and, as trustees, we have a duty of care to ensure its doors are always open. The grant has certainly helped us do that and we’re very grateful to receive it.” 

Project A-Void is one of 11 Camborne Town Deal projects. 

Anna Pascoe, BID Camborne manager, said: “It’s brilliant that more than 100 businesses have been able to benefit from phase two of Town Deal funding. 

“With its fascinating past and vibrant present-day role, Camborne Community Centre is a real treasure and we’re delighted that, as our 100th grant recipient, its future is looking bright too.” 

Camborne has been awarded £23.7m in Town Deal funding from the government – the highest amount in Cornwall. Project A-Void’s first phase started in October 2020 when more than 60 businesses were given a share of £262,000.  

The scheme’s second phase began early last year with a total of £507,000 available in grants to fill empty properties, help new and existing businesses and install signage around the town.