I've got loads but are there people in the community willing and qualified to hold classes?

I hate seeing places like that lying empty and unused. Then people moan about kids on the streets. That place sounds like it's equipped for loads of activities. Maybe get involved with the local schools and get the kids interested that way. Go round the streets and ask why nobody is interested in using it. 

I gather that for the first 1/2 hrs after school closure, the library & computer suites are used widely...it's during the day...the parents/over 16's/OAPS etc that need encouraging.

Coffee mornings

Bring and buy sales

Book club

Ask local businesses (eg hairdressers) if they'll come along and do discount prices for bulk bookings

Come dine with me afternoons/evenings

Ask the local college/uni if they can have students who would like to teach people music/cooking/dance/sport/IT etc

With the Olypmics coming up hold a grown up sports day

A soup kitchen 

Any kind of competition usually brings people in

I hope you find people in the community to help you 

Cheers Cagney! some great Ideas...

I was thinking of setting up a thrift shop!

Also a workshop to teach anyone that wants..hopefully the young...how to cook a basic roast dinner...then serve it to the local OAP & singles community on a Sunday! ??

Thrift shop sounds good. Basic cooking skills is another one. Would you be funding buying the ingredients? If so I'd keep it simple. 

When I had my salon we used to go round the local old folks homes and do discount cuts. I remember them telling me that they often wanted to take them out but it was difficult to find things to do. Also that the old folk wanted their independence and missed things like cooking for themselves.

Tea dances, bingo, chiropody clinics, hairdressing, coffee mornings, book clubs, keep fit, clothes sales (mobile sellers who transport new clothes to be viewed/tired/bought by the elderly who can't reach shops), cake sales for the elderly locals

Mother/baby groups, bring and buy sales, keep fit, music lessons, art lessons, competitions, illegal substance misuse lessons, sex and healthy relationship lectures, young girls having to look after those baby doll things as a deterrent (sp) disco's for the younger locals

Hope they're not too rubbishy ideas 

Funding would be met by sales.....healthy food at reasonable/cheap as poss prices....no wages etc paid....just costs met! so meals will be around £3.50
Roast dinners are so easy to cook...am thinking the young may not have to learn anything else   (fingers crossed) 

Not at all San....loads of goodies! 

Laser Quest? 

A friend of mine is the head of the Autism Society Dept for the N/W...A talk from the likes of herself may be a good one ?

Or hide and seek............ 

It's funny you should say that...I did find myself looking for quick exits 

I just asked my kids and they basically agreed on "somewhere to just....hang"  

When I was a teenager we had a centre we went to and it had a free pool table, juke box and vending machine. That was all we needed and we never caused trouble. I realise not all teenagers are as angelic as I was though 

See now that is my idea for all those pubs that have closed down....open them up as milk bars.....pubs for children.....pool, Darts, Jukebox etc!

But these pubs will be run by under 25's! 

What do the kids in your area do after school? Do they hang around parks/shops etc? Is there a problem with underage drinking? I loved the centre I went to and although we were good there were a few who tried to ruin it for others. They were swiftly booted out though and the centre had the backing of the police. They paid us regular visits and were actually quite funny 

TBH the centre I am talking of is a bit away from us....so am not in the know about behaviour, but I think if it had been an issue the 'Caretaker' would have said....he had a lot to say....A good thing really!

Personally....I think an after school facility away from school premises is a far better option ?? 

Away from school will appeal to kids. Even learning....away from school appeals to them. 

As a mother of 5...I would agree! 

I'll be a mother of 5 later this year. 

Wow! What do you have already & how old?

It sounds like a great place and it's a shame it's not being used. I think though these days it's not so easy to just put things on. There's always a whole host of red tape/health and safety/crb checking/risk assessments etc. I'm not saying that these are necessarily bad things to have in place but it makes things more expensive and more complicated. It's a great shame that there are places/facilities sitting unused but I think ^^^^ is part of the readon TBH.

I tend to agree with you Soozy.

As we are a CIC though...it should be a little easier to pass through that tape!

I have 2 boys and 2 girls....so far 

Twin teenage girls and a teenage stepson. My wee man is 2 and I'm due my newest one in August/Sept. You?

4 sons aged 20 - 28 & 1 daughter aged 19. 

Not a lot of pink going on in the family home! 

I'd say have mine but they'd drive you insane and they're banned from being around boys just now  

Rule 1 for my boys was...Girls will only cause you grief!

Rule 1 for my daughter was...Boys will only cause you grief!

Thankfully they are bright ! 

Rule 1 for mothers.....kids will only cause you grief 

But we wouldn't be without them 

There is that moment in the morning when I'm out for a walk before they've even opened their eyes where I'd disagree with you. It's just a moment though 

Well....I don't live at home with them anymore....it's very hard being without them! 

I feel your pain. I'll be gutted when all mine leave home