Our community hub, Foundation House, can now offer a home to three more community groups in Stratford. Currently, there are eight amazing groups who hold 12-month licences for a variety of spaces across a range of activities, including counselling and advisory services, community arts, first aid training and storage. It usually welcomes another 50 groups, charities and companies each year to take advantage of its meeting rooms and flexible spaces.
Thanks to a grant award from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund, distributed by the National Lottery Community Fund, they are now in the position to offer three more community groups a home in one of their newly refurbished, Covid secure rooms. To apply for one the rooms, an expression of interest should be submitted on by Monday 16th August. All applicants will be notified by 23rd August as to whether they have been successful.
Fran Donnelly, Community Hub Manager said: “We’re so pleased to have the opportunity to provide more space to accommodate local community groups who need a suitable home. Foundation House has created a wonderful community of like-minded people who share ideas, resources and understanding and any new groups will be warmly welcomed.”
The funding has also helped to create a relaxing, accessible and welcoming outdoor garden for all visitors and groups who use the community hub. A Big Art Project competition led by regional artist Katie O invited local residents to submit their own images that were incorporated into a mural featured on one of the garden walls. The garden has also benefitted from the hard work and enthusiasm of a group of young people taking part in the National Citizen Service (NCS) programme at Foundation House. They completed a sponsored walk to raise money for plants and flowers to bring bees and butterflies into the garden as part of their life on land social action project.
Peter Keyton-Hook, Station Manager of Welcombe Radio has been based at Foundation House since it opened in 2018 and he is pleased with the additional benefits of the garden: “The new garden is a real asset to everyone who uses Foundation House. The plants are beautifully complemented by the mural and it’s lovely to be able to step outdoors and experience peace and tranquillity.”