It is a hub which brings together organisations, businesses, charities and different community groups under one roof.

Eastern Daily Press: James and Sam West in the swimming pool at the Charles Burrell Centre before they moved their sign making business West Brothers into the premises. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYJames and Sam West in the swimming pool at the Charles Burrell Centre before they moved their sign making business West Brothers into the premises. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

And it does so with a bit of a difference - a sing making business developed around a former swimming pool and a women's clothing shop in a room which was once home to men's toilets.

This month the Charles Burrell Centre is celebrating its third anniversary, with the non-profit organisation continuing to go from strength to strength.

Eastern Daily Press: The Charles Burrell Centre is celebrating its third anniversary this month. Pictured in the former school's swimming pool are Sam and James West. Their business, West Brothers, is based there. Picture: Ian BurtThe Charles Burrell Centre is celebrating its third anniversary this month. Pictured in the former school's swimming pool are Sam and James West. Their business, West Brothers, is based there. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2017)

Based at the former Thetford Academy south site in Staniforth Road, the facility was reopened in 2014 by Thetford Town Council a year after the school was left empty.

It followed a campaign from local residents and a handful of councillors who felt the building's 85,000 square feet of space could be an asset to the community.

Eastern Daily Press: The Charles Burrell Centre is celebrating its third anniversary this month. Pictured in the former school's swimming pool are Sam and James West. Their business, West Brothers, is based there. Picture: Ian BurtThe Charles Burrell Centre is celebrating its third anniversary this month. Pictured in the former school's swimming pool are Sam and James West. Their business, West Brothers, is based there. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2017)

The site, now run by Charles Burrell Centre Limited, is at 90pc capacity and is home to more than 40 businesses, charities and community groups, including the Thetford Toy Library, Hats Don't Sell, West Suffolk College and the Thetford Foodbank.

Eastern Daily Press: The Charles Burrell Centre at Thetford. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYThe Charles Burrell Centre at Thetford. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2016)

Centre manager Mark Snowdon said: 'We are very much ahead of where we wanted to be. Over half of the site is used by charities and other community organisations. The other section is used by tenants that have some sort of commercial use and they subsidise the charity groups.'

The centre over the last three years has helped to create or ring-fence more than 130 jobs. There are currently seven members of staff and over the three years there has been more than 100 volunteers at the site.

Eastern Daily Press: The Charles Burrell Centre is celebrating its third anniversary this month. Pictured in the former school's swimming pool are Sam and James West. Their business, West Brothers, is based there. Picture: Ian BurtThe Charles Burrell Centre is celebrating its third anniversary this month. Pictured in the former school's swimming pool are Sam and James West. Their business, West Brothers, is based there. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2017)

Mr Snowdon added: 'It is brilliant and we are really proud of what we have done. The impact on the community has been significant.

'We want to continue what we are doing. We are financially independent. We are hoping to get some funding to improve the facilities with the long-term aim to keep developing the building.'

Eastern Daily Press: The former school's science storeroom has been convered into Hats Don't Sell at the Charles Burrell Centre. Picture: Mark SnowdonThe former school's science storeroom has been convered into Hats Don't Sell at the Charles Burrell Centre. Picture: Mark Snowdon (Image: Archant)

Sign makers the West Brothers have used the school's former swimming pool to grow their business.

James West said: 'This is definitely the best thing we did. It just works and it is now part of our identity. It has done wonders for our business and we known as the guys in the swimming pool.'

To find out more about the centre click here