Thornhill Community Centre in Falkirk has long provided space for a wide range of local people and organisations, including people affected by disabilities, brain injuries and addiction, health and wellbeing services, support groups, parent and child activities, fitness groups, faith groups and a wide range of community and social activities.

There are two competing Community Asset Transfer applications for Thornhill Community Centre:

Falkirk Thornhill Community Hall SCIO and the Rainbow Muslim Women’s Group

Falkirk Thornhill Community Hall SCIO is a registered Scottish charity, SC047801, and has applied through Community Asset Transfer to secure the Centre for the long term as an inclusive, sustainable facility for the whole community.

Throughout the process, Falkirk Thornhill Community Hall SCIO has sought an inclusive solution which includes the Rainbow Muslim Women’s Group and its users. We proposed an equal 50/50 governance model with the Rainbow Muslim Women’s Group, with equal representation and decision-making, transparent finances, protection for community users and an independent process for resolving disputes.

Both Community Asset Transfer applications were assessed by Falkirk Council as strong.

On 13 August 2026, Falkirk Council’s Executive agreed to allow a further three months, subject to both applicants agreeing to the extension, to explore whether a single application based on a joint governance arrangement could be developed.

FALKIRK THORNHILL COMMUNITY HALL SCIO AGREED TO THE EXTENSION. THE RAINBOW MUSLIM WOMEN’S GROUP DID NOT.

The Rainbow Muslim Women’s Group subsequently publicly confirmed through the Falkirk Herald that it would not agree to the proposed extension.

Without the agreement of both organisations, the joint-governance route could not proceed.

Because Falkirk Council did not reach a decision within the legal time limit, the charity must now take its case to a formal review.

FTCH must submit that review by 28 September 2026, so there is now a limited window for the community to make its support visible.

Falkirk Thornhill Community Hall SCIO’s preferred outcome remains the transfer of Thornhill Community Centre to FTCH under our existing Community Asset Transfer application, so that the Centre can be protected and developed as an inclusive asset for the whole community.

If the Council considers a joint-governance solution preferable, FTCH remains willing to work with the Rainbow Muslim Women’s Group through a genuinely equal 50/50 arrangement, with fair representation, equal decision-making, transparent governance and protection for all community users.

Where an equal shared-governance solution cannot be progressed, we believe Falkirk Thornhill Community Hall SCIO’s Community Asset Transfer offers the strongest way to protect Thornhill Community Centre as a whole-community asset, supporting social wellbeing, local economic activity and wider community benefit for the long term and for future generations.

If you support Falkirk Thornhill Community Hall Charity’s Community Asset Transfer application and believe Thornhill Community Centre should remain an inclusive facility for the whole community, including the Rainbow Muslim Women’s Group and all other existing and future community users, please sign this petition now.

Please also share the petition with friends, family, Centre users and others in the wider community who support Thornhill Community Centre remaining open, inclusive and available to everyone.

You can reach us via email at admin@thornhillcommunitycentre.org.uk and follow our public Thrive at Thornhill Facebook page for updates on the campaign and the future of the Centre:

Thrive at Thornhill - Thornhill Community Centre Falkirk

We invite people to comment on our Facebook posts and explain, in their own words, why Thornhill Community Centre matters to them, why they support FTCH’s Community Asset Transfer application, or why they believe a genuinely equal shared-governance model should remain an option.

Every petition signature and every genuine community response will help demonstrate current community support as Falkirk Thornhill Community Hall SCIO prepares its statutory review submission.