A Crowdfunding campaign has raised thousands of pounds to help cover increasing utility bills at Florence Park Community Centre in Oxford.

The centre in Cornwallis Road is owned by the city council and run by Florence Park Community Association as a registered charity.

When trustees found out their energy bills were rising from £4,000 to £10,000 they decided to take action.

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Earlier this month the Crowdfunder successfully raised £8,051 (plus £360 gift aid) with 68 supporters in 35 days, and the money will go towards the bills and supporting services.

Becci Seaborne, a trustee for the community association, said: "We are facing a huge hike for the energy bills so we asked local people to make a donation through the Crowdfunder and their donations were tripled, as Aviva and the Co-op also offered support.

"We did also finish with a four-figure deficit last year so we are going to ask people if they can become regular donors to the community association and that will allow us to do more financial planning."

Oxford Mail:

Ms Seaborne said those who make donations are entitled to enter a prize draw for a £460 meal voucher at Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons restaurant at Great Milton, run by French chef Raymond Blanc. The deadline is extended until the end of February.

The Crowdfunder said: "We would love to start looking at working more with local community groups to offer more free to access events and warm space - especially for children and teens.

"Florence Park Community Centre provides a warm space for the local community to connect and support each other. 

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"Our existing groups are essential, popular and more important than ever, especially now when people have the added concerns around the cost of living.

There is an over 60s free lunch on Friday supported by eight volunteers.

Each week volunteers cater for about 30 people.

The centre said: "We have joined with the Oxford Food Hub and the Oxford City Farm who provide our ingredients and we are happy to support the challenge of fighting food waste.

"This is our seventh year of running this lovely and essential group - and we would love to keep it running through 2023 with your help - just £85 per week enables us to run this service, which is less than £3 per person!"

There is also a baby group which supports 40 parents and carers with their babies.  

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The association will also use donations to add in other free-to-access times and events to the community over the coming winter months and into 2023 - such as film evenings, and subsidised monthly Sunday lunches.

For more visit florenceparkcommunitycentre.org.uk

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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF