A new Community Hub for the rural village of Coleford will be officially launched on February 6th, making a wider range of public services available to people living locally.
'At The Hub' is based at the Old School Building in Church Street, at the heart of the village, and is run by a new village social enterprise, which aims to bring together public agencies, community organisations and businesses, in a bid to tackle rural isolation.
The building, which is also home to Coleford's Youth Club, is available for local groups and individuals to hire and will act as a new meeting place for the village and surrounding areas.
The not-for-profit social enterprise, which has been established with support from Mendip District Council, will encourage public agencies to make their services available through the hub, making it easier for local people to access the services they need.
The launch of 'At The Hub' will showcase the work of those organisations planning to use the hub to provide services to local people.
Organisations attending will include YMCA, You Can do Active Living Group, IT Help at Home, a local business mentoring group, Frome Men's Shed, neighbourhood police, Mendip Credit Union, Bluebird Care, Coleford Revival Group, Coleford Theatre Group, Coleford Parish Council, CAB, Mendip Community Support, Aster Homes and local health and fitness groups.
Cllr Philip Ham, Portfolio Holder for Policy and Performance and District Councillor for Coleford, said: "At The Hub will provide a venue where the whole community can meet, exchange information and socialise and will help public agencies, businesses and community groups connect with local people, making it easier to deliver services.
"One of the Council's key commitments is to tackle the problems that some of our communities can face through rural isolation and At The Hub is a perfect example of an innovative partnership project which will really make a difference to local people."
The new Coleford Hub is a smaller version of the Shape Mendip public services hub in Shepton Mallet. Based in Cannards Grave Road, the Shape Mendip hub is home to Mendip District Council, Somerset County Council, Shepton Mallet Town Council, the Landscape Group and other public service providers. The police are set to relocate to the hub in early 2015.
The launch of At The Hub will take place on Friday, 6th February, from 3 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Old School Building, Church Street, Coleford.
Local people from Coleford and surrounding villages are invited to attend to find out more about the project and how it could help them.