Genesis Charity Centre Under Threat

3.18.07pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 11th Feb 2008

The Genesis Trust is a charity which has worked with disadvantaged people in Bath since 1990, providing soup runs and a lunch kitchen, training, life skills and reintegration into employment.

The Trust has been renting the Old Labour Exchange in the city centre from the Council, and has found it an ideal location from which to run its workshop projects and furniture shop, together with the training projects and as an administrative base.

However the Council has confirmed it has plans to put the building on the market in April. As far back as October 2007, The Somer Housing Group, in partnership with The Genesis Trust, had put forward an innovative proposal to develop the premises into affordable housing, together with a ground floor base to accommodate The Genesis Trust. The Council has never formally responded to the proposal, and only revealed their plans last week in answer to a question Cllr Beath tabled.

Councillor Cherry Beath (Lib Dem, Combe Down) said, "I believe the valuable work, training and care of disadvantaged people in the community undertaken by the Genesis Trust, goes a long way towards fulfilling some of the Council's major priorities and objectives. We should give them every support.

"The proposal from the Somer Housing Group to purchase and sensitively restore this much loved building is surely one which would gain community support. The provision of low cost / supported housing in the city centre, together with a permanent base for the work of Genesis, is much needed.

"I am pleased Cllr Malcolm Hanney, who is the Cabinet member responsible, has accepted my invitation to meet me and the Genesis Trustees, and I hope the Council will be open to working in partnership with Somer and Genesis."

Councillor Carol Paradise (Lib Dem, Kingsmead), who along with Councillor Andy Furse represents the ward in which the premises are located, added, "The Genesis Trust does a great job in the city, and their proposal with Somer Housing would be an excellent use of this historic building. I am sure local businesses and residents do not want to see more bar and bistro-type development here, and would welcome a more permanent home for The Genesis Trust. We should be supporting initiatives like theirs."

City MP Don Foster also gave his support to the Genesis Trust proposal after visiting the premises with Councillor Beath this morning (11 February) and hearing all about the work of the Trust.

Related Links:

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