One Colchester Hub Celebrates Official Opening
Posted on: April 28, 2022
Around 100 guests including, staff, trustees, partners, funders, NHS and councillors joined in
celebrating the official opening of the new One Colchester Hub in Long Wye Street, Colchester
on Friday 22nd
April. The Mayor of Colchester, Cllr Robert Davidson officially opened the event.
The Hub will be offering a wealth of services, activities and support for the Colchester
community.
Tracy Rudling, CEO at Community360 said: “I am delighted to officially open our doors in
Long Wye Street. The Hub will be a huge asset to the town as well as an important focal point
for our communities. The Covid-19 lockdown forced the Hub to pause its usual activities when it
opened in late 2021 and we had to adapt to support local communities in new ways. It is
fantastic that our wonderful staff can once again welcome the people of Colchester, to our
welcoming space where they can access a wide range of activities, programs, services, social
and wellbeing activities.”
She added: “A great deal of work has gone into reconfiguring the space which was the old
Poundland building. Upstairs has office space and training rooms which is available to hire, and
downstairs is our community area. I would like to thank everyone involved in this project for this
amazing new space, including our landlord, Custodian Capital PLC for their CSR (Corporate &
Social Responsibility) support.
Cllr Beverley Oxford said: “This is a fantastic community facility, which will serve and support
our residents for many years to come.
“The organisations involved already make a tremendous difference in our communities and to
the lives of our residents but having them working together under one roof is a real moment to
celebrate.”
The event also marked the official launch of the new Live Well Neighbourhoods Team.
The new Live Well Neighbourhoods Team for Colchester Central were on hand to talk about the
launch of Neighbourhood working. Neighbourhood working is a new way of working which will
bring communities, health, social care and voluntary organisations together to improve the
overall health and wellbeing of a local community.
Neighbourhood working was first discussed in October 2019, when local communities and
organisation came together to look at ways how they could work together to the benefit of the
local areas. From this work, The North East Essex Alliance Board agreed the boundaries for 6
new Live Well Neighbourhoods in North East Essex, which were designed to meet criteria
previously determined by the Alliance.
Pam Green Chief Operating Officer of the North East Essex CCG said: “The opening of the One
Colchester Hub comes at a crucial time to the launch of the Neighbourhoods Project, with a
Neighbourhood Connector, for Colchester Central working from the premises. Community360 is
an important part of the Neighbourhood Leadership Team and will be on hand to support this
new and exciting way of working.”
She added: “The first neighbourhood, Colchester Central was launched in December 2021
which sees a collaboration between the local voluntary sector, communities, leaders, boroughs
and health and social care.
In addition to Colchester Central we will be launching Colchester South and North and Tendring
West, East and South which will be rolled out over the course of the year.
All will have a dedicated Live Well Neighbourhood Team which is able to support individuals and
communities with whole population, urgent care, ongoing care and high needs in a joined-up
way. Our aim is to break down barriers and work more closely together to focus on the improved
health outcomes for local people.”
To celebrate the official launch there was also a community marketplace event where the public
met different groups, societies and support services in the area. A special High Sheriff
Certificate was also presented at the event by Nick Alston, the new High Sheriff of Essex to
Shelley Rudling who heads up the Community Account and Transport Teams at Commuity360
for recognition of her teams work during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Hub already hosts many different social groups throughout the week, including a Monday
morning friendship group, a board games group, men’s and women’s groups, a variety of
textiles activities and more. They offer drop-in advice and signposting and practical support such
as winter packs and slippers for those at risk of falls. The Hub also has a variety of spaces
available for groups and organisations to hire. Organisations such as Colchester Brough
Council, Peabody Housing, Independent Age, AFiUK, Ministry of Parenting, Mid and North East
Essex Mind, and Colchester Life in the UK are already using the space to host events.
Pam Donnelly, Chair of One Colchester, added: “The One Colchester Hub is a fantastic
facility that will be invaluable to so many people and provide vital help and support as our
communities recover successfully from the pandemic.
“As well as being a place where the community can come together for events and activities,
integrating a range of complementary services and activities into one building will enable us to
go even further to improve the health and wellbeing of our residents.”
The new community hub is open from Monday to Friday from 9am – 3pm
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