Monday April 15 was an open day at Rye’s Hub on the Hill, next to the hospital, and organisations of all types – voluntary, charitable and “official” – poured in for the 10:30am start.
I staggered out an hour later with lots of leaflets and pamphlets and a load of tins along with all the ingredients and recipe sheet for making three bean chilli-con-carne, described by the Repton Community Trust as “good mood food”.
The trust has a mobile shop which turns up with a selection of cupboard food, toiletries and cleaning products – at discounted prices (£1.50 for every £5 worth) – on alternate Fridays at Tilling Green Community Centre and the Hub on the Hill for an hour from 10:30am to 11:30am
Purchases are by cash only and the van is at Tilling on April 26 and May 10, and the Hub on April 19 and May 3 and 17. For more info contact peoplespantry@reptonct.uk or turn up at the van.
A wide range of activities
The open day also included talks and activities, but I was on a tight timetable. However I left with a large amount of leaflets and most organisations can be tracked down on the internet or by asking your local library or Citizen’s Advice or by visiting the Hub. My leaflet collection included, for example, RVS Rye’s monthly lunch club, STAR’s recovery service for those struggling with drugs or alcohol, various care services, Age UK, NHS tips for keeping warm and well, a police booklet on phone scams, Citizens Advice 1066, and the county council guide to social care – which resulted in me getting a personal alarm some months ago.
I visit the Hub weekly to see my counsellor after I nearly died twice (both times in the Conquest Hospital) and became very depressed and I am impressed every week by the number of organisations and services available there.
For example, I am deaf and my hearing aids often need batteries and sometimes need repair, and I can access the service through the Hub.
Talking to various services represented at the open day, I heard that Covid has left many people still needing help, the NHS is badly overstretched, and a seaside town in a rural area can have massive problems with drug use, poverty, seasonal unemployment, and poor housing and services.
And these are only thinly disguised by incoming visitors from elsewhere in the UK and many different parts of the world who just see the history and the surrounding countryside and beaches.
The Hub therefore offers important access to both services and other sources of help, and the open day will hopefully be repeated regularly.
Image Credits: Caroline Everett .
Well done to the team at the Hub for providing a great community service. Looking forward to the next open day.