A NEW community hub that aims to help people solve problems by connecting them with organisations that can assist them is set to open its doors in Chippenham town centre next week.

The Chippenham Community Hub in Borough Parade, which opens next month (July 23) is being led by former Chippenham Town Council leader and Mayor Sandie Webb, who stepped down as a councillor to fulfil her dream of a central point that can bring people and groups together, which she says is particularly important post-Covid.

The hub, which has been formed as a charity, has had funding from Chippenham Borough Lands Trust, Chippenham Area Board, Chippenham Town Council and the Rotary Club, has employed Ladonna Watts as a full-time manager to build links with voluntary and statutory bodies in the town.

It has been given free use of its premises by Borough Parade for two years, but Mrs Webb hopes to be there longer. “We are really grateful to Borough Parade for the use of the shop as a base. It’s in a great location and we are sure we’ll get a lot of footfall here,” she said. The hub’s base, a former travel agent, once sent people all over the world but now Mrs Webb wants it to send people all over the town. “We want it to be a place where people come in through the door with a problem and we help them solve it by pointing them in the right direction, to someone who can help them or they go out the door with a solution."

“It could be just someone who is lonely and looking for somewhere to build some friendships or someone needing advice. We want to be the font of all knowledge as far as Chippenham is concerned because there are so many great charities and groups in the town and we want more people to know about them. “It’s going to be a very friendly, welcoming place with a bubbly atmosphere where people will feel they can come.”

She also wants it to be a platform for groups in the town to showcase their services or even deliver them. “We would like to see groups using the space here and perhaps being in a day a week so people can make an appointment or drop in to meet them.” The hub held two open days which attracted more than 20 groups in the town to look at the space available and discuss how they might use it. “It’s a blank canvas at the moment and we are excited to see who will use the space and how what they might do here,” said Mrs Webb.

Volunteers have helped paint and decorate the hub, install lighting and furniture and get it spick and span.

“We’ve had some amazing support from people who are working really hard to ensure that the hub is ready to roll on opening day, this includes some great work from the Chippenham Rotarians,” she said.

“Alongside the volunteers we are going to launch a ‘Friends of the Hub’ group who we hope will work with us on projects to raise money and help the local community.”

Ideas being discussed for the space include a repair café, IT and language courses and debt advice. As well as the space downstairs, the hub also has a huge first floor space that could be hired out at low cost to keep fit groups, art and craft classes, mum and toddler groups or any other community organisation that needs it. The opening day will feature live reports on site from BBC Radio Wiltshire’s breakfast show and Chippenham Community Radio. There will also be craft demonstrations, repair tips and some guides to computer basics.

“We’ve had a lot of support and goodwill from people in the town and I can’t wait to see how this takes shape over the next few months," said Mrs Webb.