Charities to unite for new support hub in Weston
Richard Nightingale and volunteers, outside Somewhere To Go. Taking over four buildings to set up community hub for people in crisis. . Picture: MARK ATHERTON - Credit: Archant
A ground-breaking community hub will enable charities in Weston-super-Mare unite to transform the lives of people in need.
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has awarded £200,000 towards the project which will see Somewhere To Go, the Night Assessment Centre, Foodbank and Second Step a move into four buildings in the Boulevard.
The Night Assessment Centre and Somewhere To Go have already teamed up under the new name Somewhere To Go Day and Night, which is spearheading the project.
Chairman Richard Nightingale said: "Somewhere to Go Day and Night has already become a focal point for support services in the town centre and our vision is to link this together with our other partners, to form a Community Support Hub at our facilities on the Boulevard.
"We have recently had a significant boost through collaboration with another of our partner charities, Second Step, and funding from the CCG to offer mental health support to those in need.
"Through a new hub however, we could offer much more and we hope to raise the funds to do so.
"The benefits of co-location and co-working of such services as the YMCA, Foodbank, Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), Addaction and Somewhere to Go Day and Night, cannot be under estimated.
Most Read
- 1 Lovely views from large bungalow in sought-after village
- 2 ITV This Morning to broadcast live from Weston
- 3 Two Weston men charged with murder after man dies in Wiveliscombe
- 4 Grand Pier unveils jam-packed Platinum Jubilee Celebrations
- 5 Can you answer these 10 GCSE questions designed for 16-year-olds?
- 6 Haywood Village set for historic first-ever Jubilee celebration
- 7 Police rescue broken down bride - and get her to the wedding on time
- 8 Busy route to Bristol to close for roadworks next week
- 9 Thatchers donate apple trees in Worle for community orchard project
- 10 IN THE DOCK: Man in court after using daughter's blue badge to park in Weston
"It is a ground-breaking venture targeted at those very people who need it."
More: Mental health crisis centre to open next spring.
Addaction, the YMCA and the CAB will run outreach services from the hub and community nurses have also been allocated to the project.
The CCG has allocated £200,000 towards a mental health and wellbeing centre which is due to open next spring, and the Community Support Hub is expected to be up and running at the same time.
Organisers are hoping to raise a further £100,000 by holding a week of sponsorship challenges which include a night at Clip N Climb, Icescape and the Grand Pier.
Mr Nightingale attended Weston Town Council meeting on Monday to appeal for the authority's continued support after it awarded the night assessment centre £25,000 last year.
He said: "The centre has done exceptional work in the past year. To date, we've transformed 35 lives giving people an opportunity to come to terms with some of the complex issues they face."
To get involved with the week of challenges, contact info@stgdayandnight.co.uk