The biggest problem facing all community centres is how to fund their running costs, something seldom taken on board at the design stage. No one knows this better than SCRC’s management team of David Clarke and Beatrix Costa. Between them, they have 30 years experience of running centres and David has managed or worked in 7.

David’s track record is extensive. This includes:

• setting up the Clapham Community Project (1974-76)
• rescuing Oxford House in Bethnal Green (1976-83)
• rescuing Dame Colet House in Stepney (1994-2000)
• establishing SCRC (2001 to the present).

He has had direct experience of most Government regeneration programmes:

He has also:

• been a grants officer for a major charity (1972-74) when he learnt what funders are really looking for;
• opened the first business in Brixton after the riots (1983-1993);
• carried out consultancies for the Evelyn Oldfield Unit and Refugee Community Organisations (from RCOs 2000);
• raised the £750,000 needed by the Unit for its major Refugee Oral History Project from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Trust for London.