After nearly fifteen years, the Fitzrovia Community Centre (FCC) is ready to open its doors to the community and will aspire to contribute to the well-being and social good of the area.

The FCC will be part of an extended family of stewards, community developers and entrepreneurs and will house a range of services including West End Children Centre, currently running a popular Stay and Play, parent and toddler group. Negotiations are underway with Kids Company, a charity supporting disadvantaged children as well as the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association who also hope to be housed at the Centre.

Other types of organisations to feature at the FCC include West End School of Theatre Arts (WESTA), Society Speakers, for those interested in developing their public speaking skills, Tai Chi classes, yoga, permanent rehearsal space for a community choir and a charity strictly come dancing event.

However, the real challenge for FCC will be the need to strike a difficult balance between achieving financial stability and delivering community benefit. Behind the glamorous facade of the beautiful architecture, the task in hand will be in managing the Centre as a community asset.

"The Fitzrovia Community Centre will be a benefit to all local residents of Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia," says Wesley Ellis, manager at the Bloomsbury branch of lettings agent Edmund Cude. "It is great to have a Centre that can be enjoyed by young families through to elderly people and will certainly help to bring the local community together. We look forward to finding out what events are happening over the coming months."