We started “The Hub” coffee mornings in the village hall in September of 2023, aware that there was a need for a social space for the whole community, including outside visitors, to gather over an affordable hot drink and home baked cake, chat to old friends and an opportunity to make new.
Our Community Hub has been operational for six months now, with a rolling team of 20 volunteers who help on a weekly basis either with baking, serving, setting up, making drinks, taking payment, and clearing away.
During those six months we have served on average 40-50 drinks during each weekly session with continued support from loyal villagers but now with more visitors coming week on week from further away as word spreads.
We are noticing visitors popping in from Maiden Newton, Frome St. Quentin, Melbury Bubb, Chalmington and other villages nearby.
Together with paying for weekly hall hire, heating and hot water in the kitchen, we have been able to buy a fast boil kettle, over 40 mugs, wipe clean vinyl tablecloths, a choice of games, puzzles, and colouring activities, two bean to cup coffee machines and our own Sum Up credit and debit card machine.
Our future vision is for the hub is to contribute towards the community as a whole and we would welcome any suggestions that might be suitable for us to support.
So far, we have been able to finance a disco evening for the village, as well as raising £505.07 for Macmillan Cancer Support because of a very successful and well supported Macmillan Coffee Morning. We have also had two wonderful sessions where local jazz musicians have performed for us, regular drop ins from our Police Community Support Officer and a visit from the Community Speed Watch Coordinator.
After hearing about the success of the hub, the NHS Jurassic Social Prescribers, based out of Maiden Newton and Beaminster Surgeries, dropped by to see us recently. They were very impressed with the community camaraderie and have approached us about offering periodical drop ins. Their approach is one that aims to connect people to activities, groups, and services in their community to meet practical, social, and emotional needs affecting their health and wellbeing. The Social Prescribers will be available to chat to in a very informal manner to see how they can help address concerns.
Keep watching our hub posts on Cattistock and surrounding villages Facebook page, Cattistock Village Instagram, The Chimes and the village website for future events and drop ins. Please do encourage others who might find enjoying our positive and uplifting Friday mornings beneficial.
We thank our lovely volunteers as always, for their continued commitment and support.
Louise Bradshaw and Fiona Fulton