A community centre is struggling to find a further £200,000 to fit it out because people see the area it is being built in as too wealthy.

The Highgate Newtown Community Centre (HNCC), in Bertram Street, is currently being rebuilt after being demolished as part of Camden Council's new housing development.

The 41 flats in three blocks were originally intended to be sold privately to pay for the redeveloped community centre, but the Home Office paid the council to buy back the homes so it can house Afghan refugees who risked their lives to work with the British Government and British Army.

Nonetheless the community centre is still short of money it needs to fit out the building.

Andrew Sanalitro, director of Highgate Newtown Community Partners (HNCP), believes it is because Highgate is seen as a wealthy area.

"We were getting an empty shell. We had to raise £600,000 to fit it out. We're still short of £200,000," he said.

"HNCP applied to Camden Giving, a charity that gives grants, and that was rejected. I'm not bitter.

"This building is just very difficult to raise money to fit out. 

"You'd have thought there's a lot of money floating around in this area but 
it's certainly not coming to us. When you say 'Highgate', that can deter funders. The money we've raised is from a couple of private trusts and churches.

"There are other areas in Camden with higher needs but need is need." 

HNCC currently operates out of four different sites in the Highgate and Dartmouth Park area, which Mr Sanalitro says will all be brought back under one roof when the centre is completed in 2024.

Mr Sanalitro said he was "delighted" the Afghan refugees are taking the new flats, near a hostel being built for homeless families at the top of Chester Road, and the mental health unit in nearby Dartmouth Park Hill.

He said: "If you had people paying for private flats, they wouldn't be cheap and they would have moaned about having a community centre so close. 

"We will have people who can access services in the community for free. It's for vulnerable people so we are over the moon.

"All of this will make the area more diverse, which it isn't at the moment."

A Camden Council spokesperson said: "The Camden Council scheme involved building a community centre and youth centre, which is due to open later this year. 

"This has been funded by our construction of private sale homes, as well as our own funding. 

"Additional grants from the GLA (Greater London Authority) will, we hope, cover the costs of the scheme and enable more affordable housing to be provided.”

The council said it had "worked closely" with HNCP since the start of this development, and will continue to as the scheme progresses to ensure the new community facilities meet the needs of service providers and the community.

To donate visit: https://www.highgatenewtown.org.uk/