A COMMUNITY hub reached another milestone after its continuous hard work for residents.

The Witham Community Hub has celebrated its second birthday, two years from when it first became a registered charity.

The Hub, at Newlands Shopping Centre in Witham, first began five years ago.

Chair of Trustees at the Hub Tina Townsend said: “The original idea goes back 23 years actually, I had two quite life changing strokes back in 1999, and whilst I was in hospital, I was very aware that some people were struggling loneliness and financially.

“I was in hospital for just over three weeks, and some people never received a single visitor.

“At the time, nothing I could really do, but it kept playing on my mind.

“The opportunity came about by accident; I was asked to be a key holder by those who were the lease holders to help them out.

“They later decided they no longer wanted the space, and we at the 12th hour I took out a lease on it, with a view to open the hub as it is now.”

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The Witham Hub first opened in 2018, as a constituted group, before adding to its services by later opening a community fridge too.

Following this it later became a registered charity on February 19, 2020, after trying for almost a year to get their charitable status.

Now, the Hub continues to thrive, helping residents all over the community.

Tina added: “If anybody is struggling, come talk to us, if they need help, they need help.

“The public have always been amazing, and they have made the Hub what it is today.

“They are always fantastic for appeals, and we can never thank them all individually, but they are fantastic, and it proves this community will always come together.

“The volunteers are a family, and they always go above and beyond, we have the best volunteer group in town.”

For its second birthday, the Hub kept celebrations relatively low-key, and are looking forward to continuing to provide help and support for the community.