Midlands Greek & Cypriot Association Car Park

The Midlands Greek & Cypriot Association require the urgent support of our community, to raise funds for our centre and subsequent legal fees:

The last year has been the most difficult the Estia has ever faced. In October of 2024, the committee received the devastating and frustrating news that has in return affected all of our community over the past year, our car park and surrounding woodlands would be sold at auction. At the same time, major renovation works across the building were needing to be undertaken to fix the roof of our long standing centre.

In early December the car park at the Midlands Greek & Cypriot Association (Estia), was sold at auction and purchased by a buyer external to our community.

Many asked why we did not purchase this land at the auction, the Estia was not in a position to do so at the time as we simply did not have the funds available (please see our Q&A document for further information on this).

The new owners breached our community's direct usage of the car park and the rights we have to using the car park freely.

The legal situation:

We are now in the process of legal undertakings with a professional legal team, who is working with us so we can enforce our rights over the car park are known by those occupying the car park.

So far we have incurred legal fees that have cost the Estia circa £80,000, with further legal fees to come plus the purchase price of the land. (information on our legal team can be found in the Q&A document).

Our legal team have been successful in securing our usage over the majority of the car park, a right we have always known we have had, which has been a hugely positive step forward in moving towards a normal time for us.

On the 28 July 2025, we received further news that the owners are now willing to begin negotiation on the sale of the land and subsequent woodlands surrounding the Midlands Greek & Cypriot Association.

How we're fundraising:

The committee are working as hard as they can to bring funds in through fundraisers and charity events including:

May Day festival raised £5000

July summer fun day raised £3000

August golf society charity event upcoming.

However, this only takes us so far.

We are bringing funds together and ask our community to help so that:

• Our centre can remain

• Parents feel at ease when bringing their children to school

• Church goers can attend freely

• To keep the legacy of our families who worked so hard to build the centre

What can our community do:

We implore our community as we are in need of coming together, we are in a crisis where the funds of the Estia have been depleted.

Support from our community, across the UK is needed to put us in a position where we are able to purchase the land and negotiate with the current owners. Without the funds available and ready for negotiations we will be unable to put in an offer.

We ask our community to help support us. Anything that can be donated to better our cause, is one step closer to saving our car park and centre.

On average, we receive between 50,000-60,000 visitors per year into our centre. In 2024 we received £75,000 of donations this is the equivalent of a £1.36 donation per person that enters and uses the building.

• Donate where possible

• Share the link on social media

• Spread the word far and wide to our community

Please contact a member of the Estia committee to discuss in further detail, if you would like more information or would prefer to donate directly to us.

About the community centre:

The association was founded in 1974 and moved to the Community Centre in Erdington in 1983. We offer various facilities to support the Greek, Cypriot and local community, we promote Hellenic culture within the region; from our traditional Taverna, café, Banqueting Suite, our Greek School, and Orthodox Church.

We are an Industrial and Provident Society (GB-MPR-30050R) governed by the FSA. As a not for profit organisation, we depend on the work of volunteers and donations to keep our centre going.

Without our community’s donations and volunteers we would not be able to survive, your kind donation will help to ensure we keep the centre and all the facilities.

Thank you in advance for your support

The Midlands Greek & Cypriot Committee