Carn Brea Recreation Centre, which was being run by a private contractor for the District Council, closed in Nov 1999, with the loss of 63 jobs.

The local community protested vociferously against this closure, and have risen to the challenge to run the centre themselves, and created a charitable company to do so. The centre includes a swimming pool , squash courts, athletics track, fitness centre and bar; the entire facility has been rented to the community by the District Council at a peppercorn rent.

With the help of a loan from SWCLF, the trustees were enabled to buy the existing equipment from the previous operator. 39 jobs have been rescued; 43 schools will be using the facility; the Fitness Centre, the Judo, Archery and Karate Clubs will be able to continue to offer the activities they have run for 25 years; and an estimated 240 disabled people will have access to the facility each week.

Due to the strength of feeling in the local community, and their persistence and hard work, all of this was achieved in little over three months, and Carn Brea re-opened for the schools half term in February 2000.