A POPULAR Bradford community centre which was on the verge of closing due to a lack of cash has been saved by a last-minute £15,000 donation.

Bolton Woods Community Centre looked destined to close for good last week despite its popularity with parents, children and older residents.

It was saved by a donation from Bradford-based company Provident Financial whose staff found out about the centre's financial difficulties when a volunteering day for employees had to be cancelled.

Nigel Taylor, enterprise co-ordinator at Bolton Woods Community Centre, said: "Provident are a real lifeline to us here at the community centre.

"We are now in the position to develop our community enterprise of The Hub coffee shop and Cubs in the Woods soft play gym.

"Our ultimate aim is to become financially self-sufficient and maintain a long-term community provision well into the future and Provident has given us this opportunity and potentially secured the centre for future generations."

The money has come from the company's community outreach programme, Good Neighbour.

Provident Financial staff had first-hand experience of the centre's popularity after taking part in volunteering work there.

The centre is popular with families for its childcare sessions in which parents can bring their children to the soft-play area and be looked after by trained staff.

For older people there is a Meet and Eat Luncheon Club, run by volunteers who prepare home cooked meals for the over 50s.

There is a minibus door-to-door service for those unable to make their own way to the group, meaning the club can be a vital source of socialising for isolated older people.

A spokesman for Provident Financial said: "With the assistance of Participate, a charity specialising in business community engagement programmes in Bradford, it was established that an investment of £15,000 would enable the centre to remain open and allow them the time they needed to put in place a series of measures to secure their long-term future.

"After completing a volunteering day back in 2009 and revisiting the centre this year, Provident Financial agreed to invest the full amount to support the well-loved centre and help get it back on its feet."

The Provident Financial team's most recent work involved clearing an outdoor play area of weeds.

Sharon Orr, community investment manager at Provident Financial, said: "It was a real shock to hear that Bolton Woods Community Centre was being forced to close its doors, having seen over the years how valued it is throughout the local community.

"With the help of our partners, Participate, we were able to provide support to get the centre back on track and lay the groundwork for what will hopefully be a thriving and sustainable community hub.

"The volunteering day was a great opportunity to see how well-used the centre is and we look forward to seeing the new outdoor play area being put to good use by the young visitors."