Staunton celebrates its first ‘hubiversary’

Staunton on Wye residents got together in June to celebrate the first anniversary of their Talk Community Hub.

Over 40 people attended the event at the Staunton on Wye Village Hall for a delicious ploughman’s lunch, including members of the parish council, the Jarvis Charity, the police and many local residents.

Since it opened, the hub has also been an integral part of the local community. From the informal ‘cuppa and chat’ events to popular children’s activities, there is something for everyone. Their IT facilities mean residents can use the internet and print documents and each month they put on a range of popular events to help bring the community together.

Of course, the hub is only as good as the fantastic volunteers that run it! The idea came from Wendy Shepherd and Barbara Arthur, who wanted to run a local coffee morning to help bring everyone in the community together. They worked with their friend Sheila Marsh to help secure the funding and set up as a Talk Community hub in June 2021. Since then, the three wonderful volunteers have worked together to run so many interesting events, including a fascinating talk about the Ice Age formations in the area and a session with a local osteopath discussing how to avoid back pain.

Speaking to one of the volunteers, Wendy Shepherd, she mentioned that the hub had been described as a ‘lifesaver’ by some of the residents and said “Our Talk Community Hub is a fantastic place to get the community together. The atmosphere is always friendly and relaxed and everyone appreciates the fact that it doesn’t cost anything. We’re so pleased to offer such a valuable service to the people of Staunton on Wye”.

The celebrations on the day were a huge success and we’re really pleased to see the hub thriving and bringing so many of the local community together.

Amy Pitt, service director communities at Herefordshire Council said: “Staunton on Wye is a fantastic example of what Talk Community is all about. It’s become an important part of the community and is the go-to place if residents are looking for support, activities or just a friendly face.”

Find out all about your nearest hub at www.talkcommunity.org/hubs