It is one year already since we opened the doors on Hungerford Hub and look what a year it has been!
We have more visitors!
Not only has
the Hub seen a growing programme of events and activities, the latest figures
from WBC Library Service* show an encouraging 19% increase in library visitors
and an 8% rise in book loans, reversing trends in previous years that had seen
usage falling.
Improvements to our
space
We are very
pleased with our progress in making the Hub a space for the whole community,
whether a library user or not. This year we have installed a new kitchen –
thanks to Tesco’s Groundwork Community Fund. We have also purchased additional
seating, giving a capacity of up to 100 people, plus new mobile book-shelves
for the library service, enabling a more flexible use of the space.
Successful fundraising
and increased revenue
Fundraising
for the Hub goes from strength to strength via a variety of sources – from the
generosity of the community through Sponsor a Brick to the support of
Hungerford Town Council and The Good Exchange. We also receive revenue from the
West Berks lottery fund and most recently, the Amazon Smile initiative.
This means
that although running costs continue to grow, we are cautiously confident for
the Hub’s future. Bookings are growing,
with events such as author signings, music and language lessons, art workshops
and more regularly filling the calendar.
TheCurve blossoms as a
multi-use space
And now,
with the development of TheCurve exhibition and retail space at the
front of the building, we can offer local artists a platform for showing their
work. Launched last December with an exhibition followed by a pop-up shop, TheCurve
immediately proved successful both in terms of raising funds for the Hub and visitors
it attracted. In between exhibitions the space can still be hired for workshops
or as a private working/meeting space, and continues to be used as an outreach
office by Citizens Advice, The Registrar, etc.
Join our team of
volunteers!
None of this
would have been achieved without our amazing volunteers who have given so much
time and energy to making the Hub an asset to the town. If you would like to be
involved – perhaps just a few hours helping at events or as one of the team
that makes it all happen – please contact our Hub Manager (details below).
And of
course, we must also acknowledge the support of the people of Hungerford who
have visited our pop-up shops, attended workshops and generally cheered us on.
Thank you!
Useful stuff to know –
Need a venue? The main space within the Hub can be outside of library operating hours; charges start at £30 for a three-hour block. TheCurve is available to hire every day of the week; charges start at £15 for a three-hour block; weekend hire (Friday – Sunday) is £80. Click here to find out more.
Want to know what’s on in the Hub? Click here to find out or pick up a leaflet in the Hub or speak to a member of the WBC library team.
For bookings or for more information about Hungerford Hub, please contact Andrea, Hub Manager, on 07512 076150 or at hungerfordhub@gmail.com.
* figures for the second quarter (April-June) of 2019 compared with same period in 2018.