A new management team has started pulling a community centre back from the brink of closure.

And its leader is a man who saved another such place in London.

Dover’s new St Radigund’s Community Centre Company, chaired by Andrew Sanalitro, was formed in August as the Triangles centre’s bank balance was rapidly shrinking.

Years of financial problems, such us through lack of grants and repair costs, meant that the Poulton Close centre could have shut after just 13 years.

The new team has brought in new management practices, clearing debts and saving money by using volunteers instead of paid staff and managers.

It is also pursuing grant applications, particularly National Lottery, and private funding.

Mr Sanalitro had saved a centre in Camden by redundancies, selling under-used assets and from there reviving confidence among investors and donors.

He said: “Here at the Dover centre there has been a lack of money with no grants coming in and the existence was hand to mouth.

“It was in danger of closing but we have pulled it away from the brink. We have started from the bottom and have already begun to work our way up.”

The trust explained that finances had gone out of control with overspends of about £800 a month since 2014 even with the hall being overbooked.

The Triangles ended up with a bank balance of £4,000 in August when £15,000 is needed to stay healthy. Triangles serves a potential 3,500 people in the St Radigund’s ward.

Closure would mean the loss of a meeting place for the local youth club, Brownies, book club, knitting group, church choir and an exercise class for those in their 40s to 70s.

Mr Sanalitro said: “The problems here have been going on for a few years and they are not unique to this centre.

"With cuts to local government funding all charity sectors are finding it very difficult.

“The last three months have been particularly hard as we try to turn it around. But we have a new business plan and we have great support from Dover District Council.

“We also have a brand new team that is skilled to make sure we apply for private money grants.

"So we are ready to start again.”

Hope is already rising with Kent County Council about to sign a 15-year lease to provide a children’s centre here.

The district council is helping with an officer giving governance training and guidance.

The trustees are also looking to expand community provision by setting up an under-fives Stay and Play group.

They are appealing for public donations for this, with a target figure of £12,000 for a co-ordinator, and hope that sum will be match-funded by a National Lottery grant to buy new equipment.

Managers are planning a public consultation to pinpoint the exact services people want.

Mr Sanalitro said: “We just want the centre back on its feet delivering projects which are needed.

"We will be talking to local people because it’s their centre and we want them fully involved in its future.”

The remaining trustees of St Radigund’s Community Centre Company Ltd, which is a registered charity are Roxy Curtis and cousins Lisa and Kevin Terry

. Their late grandfather Frederick originally helped set up the Triangles Community Centre, which opened in 2004.

Ward district and town councillor Sue Jones is a patron. To donate email Mr Sanalitro at andrewhncc@outlook.com.

How exactly did Andrew Sanalitro save the community centre in London?

See this week's Dover Mercury newspaper.