Showing posts with label
Leicester Chinese Community Centre.
Show all posts
Showing posts with label
Leicester Chinese Community Centre.
Show all posts
This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:
Chinese centre forced to close
Financial problems have forced the closure of a Chinese community centre.
The building, under Burley's flyover, Leicester, had been a base for thousands of Chinese residents since 1989.
However, Leicester City Council stopped its funding in 2005 and since then the centre's committee has struggled to make ends meet.
Chairman Paul Ng estimated there were between 3,000 and 4,000 Chinese people in Leicester, not including students, and said many relied on the centre and the activities it provided.
While many clubs and groups that used the centre have found alternative venues, the closure of the centre has meant the loss of an advisory service which helped people who struggled with English.
The Chinese New Year celebrations in Humberstone Gate were organised by the centre and will cease.
Mr Ng said: "It's very sad but we can't continue.
"In 2005, we lost our grant, which was then about £50,000 a year and covered our rent, wages and the cost of the luncheon club we run.
"The clubs which used the centre have moved elsewhere and our luncheon club for the elderly will continue temporarily at the Peking restaurant, in Charles Street.
"Our Sunday Chinese school students have all moved to other schools in the city but our major services, such as the day-to-day advisory service to members, will end."
Kung fu instructor Derek Fearson, who has moved his classes to the Peepul Centre, in Orchardson Avenue, Belgrave, said: "I'm gutted. We've been involved with the centre since it opened and do the lion dance at the Chinese New Year celebration each year.
"I know most of the other groups are also in new locations, but it's a shame not to have the centre.
"I'm hoping when the dust settles we can get together and organise something for the Chinese New Year again."
Many of the people who used the centre came to Leicester from Malaysia and Hong Kong.
Most newcomers today are students visiting temporarily from the Chinese mainland.
Evelyn Lee, who was the development officer for the centre for the past two years, said: "There are more Chinese in Leicester than before but most of them are students.
"They have their own services and societies."
Happy new year! Crowds enjoy Chinese celebrations in Leicester
The Chinese Year of the Dragon was welcomed to the city in style as hundreds of people watched a colourful dance display at Leicester market.
Music and martial arts displays kept shoppers entertained on Saturday as people gathered to take part in Leicester's Chinese New Year celebrations.
The new year officially begins today and marks the end of the winter season.
Spectators watched a traditional dragon dance, which was followed by kung fu demonstrations by members of the International Taijiquan and Shaolin Wushu Association (ITSWA).
Chinese student rock band Penalty Notice also performed.
Paul Ng, chairman of the Leicester Chinese Community Centre (LCCC), which organised the event, said: "We want to celebrate the new year and try to bring awareness of our culture to the people of Leicester at the same time.
"The event has been very well received and there have been lot of people coming along and watching the kung fu demonstrations and listening to the music – it has been a big success."
Shopper Caroline Harding, 43, was watching the martial arts show.
She said: "It's not the most common thing to see at the market, but it's really interesting. It's good to learn things about other cultures – and to see people celebrating the Chinese New Year."
It is thought there are more than 1,000 Chinese people in the city and about 4,000 in the county.
The LCCC was set up in about 1979 and is based at the junction of the Burleys flyover and Belgrave Gate.
Leicester Chinese Community Centre publicly celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Dragon at Market Corner in the city centre this afternoon. A lion dance and Chinese music performances are just two aspects of the afternoon for visitors to enjoy, as well as calligraphy and origami workshops. In the photo, a ladies' group are putting on a Tai Chi demonstration.
