About Us
Kinghorn Community Centre will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2026. It promises to be a fantastic year of celebrations to mark the centre being at the heart of the community for three decades…
It's been a long journey—one that started in 1989—and a real testament to the hard work and vision of many people in Kinghorn over the years. But how did it all start? Read on for the fascinating history behind our community centre…
Development of the Former Primary School
It all began way back on Thursday 22nd June 1989 when Kirkcaldy District Council called for a public meeting to discuss the role of the community in a project to develop the former primary school into a community facility. They proposed acquiring the former school from Fife Regional Council with a plan to convert it for three specific uses—a library, an office and a community centre.
The role of the community in this development would relate directly to the community centre, which was to be the subject of a grant application to the Scottish Education Department. For the application to succeed, support from Fife Regional Council was necessary. That was confirmed in a negotiation between the two councils.
However, there also needed to be a local voluntary group which would have to demonstrate its ability to raise funds and undertake the management of the centre when completed. The possibility of a sports hall would also be examined for the second phase of the project. At the end of the presentation, several volunteers came forward and the required Voluntary Committee was formed.
Voluntary Group
The committee immediately got to work on the main areas:
- Organising fundraising activities to establish credentials acceptable to the Scottish Education Department for grant purposes.
- Reviewing the plans for the community centre to ensure it met community needs.
A series of fundraising activities were launched. These included social events, car boot sales and many other activities. One of the main fundraising events was a musical concert provided by The Band of the Royal Marines, Scotland, at the Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy. The proceeds of this concert went to the Community Centre Fund.
The voluntary group closely analysed the plans for the community centre, and with the participation of a Kirkcaldy District Council architect, agreed on requirements. One of the major concerns was the proposed size of the sports hall, which was only able to accommodate one badminton court. After some debate it was agreed that the hall must be big enough to cater for several activities such as 7-a-side football, basketball, tennis and various social events.
Construction Work
After the commitment to fundraising had been demonstrated, the building work started. The dream was becoming a reality. Construction was initially focused on the completion of modifications to the former school building … and the construction of the new sports hall would follow later.
Opening of the Community Centre
It was the proudest moment in 1996 when the centre was opened. A new management committee was formed, comprising several of the voluntary group and some new members. It was formed with the aim of encouraging representatives from the various groups using the facility to join the committee so that they would have a direct input on how the centre would operate.
Staff members were employed by the centre to carry out the various functions.
It has been essential to continue fundraising activities to finance staff costs and various centre improvement projects. These fundraising activities have included social events, dances, car boot sales and the 50/50 draw. Memorable events include the celebration dance to mark the start of the Millennium when the centre was full of families enjoying the unique event.
Community Centre Operation
Routine maintenance has been covered by Fife Council but the centre has funded various improvement projects. These include replacing the kitchen equipment, installation of a new floor and a division curtain in the Sports Hall. This emphasises the importance of fundraising activities to allow the centre to continue to be maintained to a high standard.
The centre has proved to be a great asset to Kinghorn in providing facilities for a wide range of sport and social activities. The Black Rock Café, within the centre, provides a meeting place where members of the community can get together and enjoy the food and drink on offer.
The success of the centre is also due to the staff and volunteers. They put a great emphasis on making all visitors feel welcome and providing a high level of service.
So there's the history … a centre formed by the community for the community—and nothing much has changed. By supporting events, using the halls for activities or grabbing a cuppa and a sandwich in the cafe, you'll be ensuring Kinghorn Community Centre thrives for many years to come.
Gallery
A photo of the original Kinghorn Community Centre Committee who were involved from the very beginning.
