Worker lived in youth centre 'rarely opened for activities'

A YOUTH worker and his family were allowed to live in a community centre called "The Mansion" while locals complained it was rarely open to the public.

Max Volino, community learning and development worker at Gracemount Youth and Community Centre, has only vacated the historic property recently.

It is understood he was allowed to rent a flat within the sprawling former mansion by the venue's board. But the council raised "considerable concern" about the arrangement as far back as 2005.

A damning new report into the facilities at the centre on Lasswade Road has revealed the number of events provided for youngsters has plummeted in the meantime.

Even though Mr Volino and his family have been living at The Mansion permanently, local residents complained that the centre was rarely open, phone calls were left unanswered, e-mails were ignored and excursions were cancelled at the last minute.

As a result, the council has threatened to withdraw its £8000 grant unless improvements are made.

But the centre's board today hit back, labelling the report "a work of fiction", and claiming the local authority wants to sell the building.

The venue, which opened in 1964, is the first and longest running independent youth centre in Scotland.

It has a range of multi-purpose rooms, including a recording studio and facilities for youth clubs. There is also a walled garden and an all-weather sports pitch.

Councillor Marilyne MacLaren, the city's education leader, said: "The children and families department has a robust quality standards monitoring programme.

"There is considerable concern about the quality of provision offered at Gracemount Community Centre."

When inspectors visited the venue last year, a programme was operating for only two groups of youngsters.

The groups which previously enjoyed sessions five days a week were unable to access the building.

During the two-week inspection period, only 23 young people attended events, and almost half of these were cancelled due to lack of organised staff cover.

Inspectors said: "Often, (the centre] was closed and there seemed to be no pattern or operational hours that could be identified."

The council has drawn up an action plan, which calls for a review of staffing arrangements, and for the centre to engage more with other community facilities.

The report added Mr Volino's living arrangements caused "considerable concern" over access to the building.

It said: "The only access to this accommodation was through the main building. This leaves both the worker, his family and centre users at potential risk."

When contacted by the Evening News, Mr Volino said: "It's obviously a very stressful time for me and my family."

The board also hit back at the inspectors' findings. It called the report "a work of fiction that bears no resemblance to the work that goes on in The Mansion".

A pamphlet available at The Mansion also claims the council is seeking to terminate the board's lease to save money.

A council spokeswoman insisted there were no proposals to close the centre. Liberton/Gilmerton councillor Ian Murray said he hoped the problems "are resolved as quickly as possible".