Kwik Save Founder’s Charity to Restore Vital Community Centre
A charitable foundation will fund a major renovation of a community centre in Liverpool, enhancing support for local families and residents
Kensington Fields, Liverpool, UK, Albert Gubay, Community Centre, Charity
The Kensington Fields Community Centre has been around for ages but has seen better days. It’s been run by the Kensington Fields Community Association, but the building is in rough shape and needs some serious TLC.
The city council, strapped for cash, is teaming up with the community association and the charitable foundation to get this project rolling. The foundation was started by Albert Gubay, who founded Kwik Save. He left his property empire to fund charitable work, and now it’s paying off for the community.
They’re looking at around £2.5 million for the renovations, which will help families with support services and housing issues. The best part? It won’t cost the city a dime.
Gubay sold his Kwik Save shares back in the ’70s and shifted his focus to property. Now, his foundation manages a portfolio that funds these kinds of projects.
A report is on the table for the city council to review, highlighting that the current building needs repairs, especially to the roof. They’re considering a long-term lease for the community association, which would keep the centre running at a low cost.
If they don’t go this route, the council could take back the site and rent it out commercially, which would mean losing the community centre altogether. That would be a real shame, especially since it serves a deprived area.
The cabinet will discuss these plans at their meeting on January 21, and everyone is hopeful for a positive outcome that benefits the whole community.