CHARITIES and community groups have been offered a free home in Hyndburn.

The Hyndburn Voluntary and Community Resource Centre, at St James Old School, in Cannon Street, Accrington, has room for offices for ‘one or two’ organisations in the public, community, voluntary and faith sectors.

Co-manager Tony Dobson, who is also a Conservative councillor in the Barnfield ward, said groups would only have to pay for the basic overheads, such as energy and broadband internet.

He said: “The only criteria needed to receive this offer is that they must be offering their services in Hyndburn or Pennine Lancashire as a whole.”

The centre will have been open for 10 years next month, Coun Dobson said, and is home to numerous groups, including Community Solutions North West, Remploy, and Gypsy Roma Traveller.

Community activities such as yoga are also hosted at the centre, which rents out its hall on an hourly basis and is used by up to 500 people each month.

Coun Dobson, who lives at Rhoden Farm Barn, off New Lane in Oswaldtwistle, said: “Agencies include the county council, to travellers, to charities. Their services are based with us but they are offered to people in Hyndburn or Pennine Lancashire. We have only got room for one or two organisations so it’s first come, first served.”

The community centre was recently granted a new 10-year lease.