Helensburgh’s Community Hub is already using its main hall for more than 50 hours a week – only six months after it opened.
The details are given in a report to go before community chiefs, which details the good relationships established with the permanent tenants of the West Princes Street facility.
These include Helensburgh and Lomond Foodbank, Key Housing, the British Red Cross and Argyll and Bute Rape Crisis.
Other activities are also taking place at the hub, which was formerly used by the Red Cross itself.
The first ‘Cuppa, Cake and a Chat’ session took place last month and yoga classes will start on Monday, February 14.
The report will go before a virtual meeting of Argyll and Bute Council’s Helensburgh and Lomond community planning group next week.
A spokesperson for the hub said: “The hub has established a diversity of income generation to support our long-term financial sustainability.
“This includes rental income, hall hire charges, book sales, support in kind from local businesses and individuals, and grants for specific activities and projects.
“The main hall is already operating for 50 plus hours a week and welcomes a range of clubs and organisations such as We are With You, Visiting Friends, arts and crafts groups, a new youth club, Fun First, and dance classes.
“Despite the challenge from new Covid guidance announced just 24 hours beforehand, approximately 100 people attended the hub throughout our launch day on Wednesday, December 15.”
The spokesperson added: “2022 is all about ‘Kindness creates Connection creates Community’. Under this theme we will host activities to promote connection as a path to health and wellbeing, grow our membership and engage with the community.
“Our first event on Saturday, January 22 – A Cuppa, Cake and A Chat was very successful. Community yoga classes will be starting on Monday, February 14 from 5.30pm-6.30pm on a donation basis where people pay what they can.
“And we are working with Helensburgh-based organisation Females Tales to establish a Menopause Café in the hub.
“The weekly book sale is growing: it has a new name and we have welcomed new volunteers. We have created a warm and welcoming place with comfortable seating where people can meet to read, chat, do a bit of our community jigsaw and enjoy a cup of free tea or coffee.”
The Book Nook will now open three to four times a week – Mondays from February 14 from 2pm to 6pm; Tuesdays 10am to 2pm; Wednesdays 10am to 4pm; and the second and fourth Saturdays of every month from 11am to 2pm.
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