The devastated founders of Southend’s Ironworks community hub have written an emotional “thank you” to supporters ahead of its closure. Here, they reflect on their legacy:

To our wonderful community of Southend - together we tried our very best. Thank you.

Thanks to emergency funding from the Rosca Trust, the Essex Community Foundation- via the Acorn Trust, as well as so many amazing donations from you, we were able to survive this far, but it simply wasn’t enough.

We are devastated to have to announce that the Ironworks Southend has been forced to make the decision to close. Together we weighed up everything and we simply can’t afford to keep this project going.

All we needed was to bridge a gap financially - and we just couldn’t make it happen. There were so many opportunities literally around the corner.

However, a community centre just couldn’t support itself with the humungous overheads the unit costs.

We didn’t choose 90 High Street ourselves - but how could you not love this building?

We do, so very much.

It was chosen for us as part of a regeneration project in associate with our partners Southend Council and it turned out to be probably one of the most expensive units in the High Street!

We met all of the objectives set - “Regeneration Project: Re-purpose an empty unit in the High Street with the concept of the project to have the community at its heart”.

The Ironworks was born - an arts and culture centre - a unique modern day community centre - a space created by the community for the community, providing platforms for expression for everyone who wished to express themselves.

We provided space for start up companies to showcase their work with low overheads and provided the platform for our cities talent, of all ages, from all cultures and covering all genres.

We had such wonderful dreams of activating all five floors - the grand plan! This was the only way we could become truly sustainable but accessibility was our stumbling block. We needed a working lift and another stairwell to meet regulations.

We planned to have recording, arts and textiles studios as well as a grass roots music space in the basement, a community theatre, youth club,and private event space on the first floor.

We had such amazing plans for the top floor and roof - a roof top film club, a permaculture grow and a community allotment space - our community together came up with these ideas and dreams.

However time has not been on our side. We needed to bridge a financial gap - for potential Lottery and Arts Council funding and also private funding pots that are simply just around the corner. We are deeply disappointed we have not been able to find that bridge. We have our incredible team’s livelihoods in our hands - so we had to make the decision now to give them time to find new jobs. We are so so terribly sad. We haven’t failed though. We hope you agree.

Out last day will be this Thursday – and we would like to invite all of our loyal customers, traders, artists, performers and friends to pop in to celebrate everything we have created and enjoyed over the last year.