Key Points
- Leeds City Council agreed to lease two community centres to local charities during a meeting at Leeds Civic Hall.
- Cultural organisation RJC Dance, which is part of the Leeds West Indian Carnival, secured a lease of up to 50 years for the Mandela Centre located in Chapeltown.
- Project Hope Leeds secured a 25-year lease to run the Ebor Gardens community centre situated on Haslewood Drive.
- Council reports indicated that the asset transfers will generate financial savings for the local authority and relieve it of future maintenance liabilities.
- RJC Dance has operated out of the Mandela Centre for approximately 10 years and has already invested in facility improvements.
- Project Hope Leeds has been operating within the local community for around 15 years.
- Local councillors, including Burmantofts and Richmond Hill Labour councillor Asghar Khan and Chapel Allerton Labour representative Mohammed Rafique, voiced strong support for the community asset transfers.
Leeds (The Leeds Times) September 18, 2026 — The long-term operational future of two vital community hubs has been officially secured after Leeds City Council formally agreed to lease the properties to established local charities.
How Did Leeds City Council Secure the Future of the Mandela Centre and Ebor Gardens?
The formal decisions regarding both facilities were finalised during a local authority meeting held at Leeds Civic Hall. Under the terms of the new agreements, management and operational control of the Mandela Centre in Chapeltown and the Ebor Gardens community centre on Haslewood Drive will pass directly into the hands of local community organisations.
As detailed in reports presented to the council, the structural asset transfers are projected to generate meaningful financial savings for the municipal authority while simultaneously relieving the council of ongoing, long-term property maintenance costs.
What Are the Details of the RJC Dance Agreement for the Mandela Centre?
Cultural organisation RJC Dance, which operates as an integral part of the Leeds West Indian Carnival, has secured a lease of up to 50 years for the Mandela Centre.
According to documentation prepared for the council meeting, RJC Dance has already occupied and operated out of the Chapeltown building for approximately a decade, during which time the organisation has invested private funds into various facility improvements.
Speaking in support of the handover, Labour councillor Mohammed Rafique, who represents the Chapel Allerton ward, endorsed the municipal transition. As reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Mohammed Rafique stated that
“they have already assumed significant responsibility for the building”.
Adding further emphasis to the local political backing, Mohammed Rafique noted that
“as councillors, we support the community transfer”.
The official council report further noted that the proposal is anticipated to solidify and strengthen the Mandela Centre’s ongoing status as a focal point for arts, culture, sport, and general community engagement, while concurrently safeguarding continued, uninterrupted physical access for current users and local community groups.
What Are the Plans for the Ebor Gardens Community Centre Under Project Hope Leeds?
In parallel with the Chapeltown arrangement, Project Hope Leeds—a charity dedicated to assisting disadvantaged communities in tackling poverty—has taken over the operation of the Ebor Gardens centre on Haslewood Drive under a 25-year lease term.
According to findings highlighted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the municipal transfer of Ebor Gardens was designed specifically to reverse a sustained period of declining public usage at the venue, alongside addressing a noticeable deterioration in the overall physical condition of the building.
The council evaluation report specified that the revitalization proposal incorporates concrete plans to maximise daily utilisation of the site by introducing flexible meeting spaces, diverse community programmes, and targeted support services tailored to address hyper-local social needs.
Providing background on the incoming operators during the municipal meeting, Burmantofts and Richmond Hill Labour councillor Asghar Khan pointed out that Project Hope has actively delivered community services in the area for roughly 15 years. Expressing full confidence in the organisation, Asghar Khan told the meeting that “we trust them”. Asghar Khan further emphasised that
“their plan is to work with local groups to make Ebor Gardens Community Centre a thriving centre once again”.
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Background of the Development
The practice of community asset transfer—where local authorities hand over the management or ownership of public buildings to community groups, charities, or social enterprises—has grown significantly across local government in the United Kingdom over the past two decades.
Faced with severe central government funding reductions, rising inflationary pressures, and statutory obligations to balance municipal budgets, local authorities like Leeds City Council have increasingly looked to community asset transfers as a sustainable mechanism to keep public facilities open.
Historically, council-run community centres often suffered from declining operational budgets, reduced opening hours, and deferred maintenance backlogs. By transferring long-term leases to deeply embedded local charities—such as RJC Dance in Chapeltown and Project Hope Leeds in Burmantofts—local councils enable these grassroots organizations to unlock external grant funding, charitable donations, and National Lottery resources that are typically inaccessible to municipal bodies.
This approach not only preserves essential neighbourhood infrastructure but also shifts service delivery closer to the residents who rely on them most.
Prediction
Looking ahead, these long-term lease agreements are expected to profoundly affect local residents, community groups, and disadvantaged families across Chapeltown and East Leeds. For the residents who rely on the Mandela Centre, the 50-year security granted to RJC Dance removes years of operational uncertainty, enabling the cultural organisation to expand youth arts provision, creative workshops, and carnival arts training without the constant threat of facility closures or rent hikes.
Similarly, the arrival of Project Hope Leeds at the Ebor Gardens community centre on a 25-year term is poised to breathe new life into an underutilised municipal asset. By introducing localized poverty-reduction initiatives, parent-support groups, and accessible meeting spaces, the charity is well-positioned to transform the building into an active social anchor for the LS9 area.
Ultimately, these developments will likely lead to increased footfall, stronger social cohesion, and more resilient neighbourhood support networks, demonstrating a viable blueprint for sustainable public asset management in urban communities.
