A - Z Challenge 2024 - H is for Hub

This year I'm blogging about my local area.  

My area?  Highams Park which is in the borough of Waltham Forest in North East London, (UK) a little known place that nestles between Chingford and Woodford that most people only come to if they have a specific reason to - if not we usually get bypassed.  Suits us.

Having lived in Forest Gate in East London for 36 years (and for my husband 65 years!) moving was a big deal for us.  But we've been in Highams Park since September 2020 so I feel I know enough about it now to fill out 26 posts! 

We've only moved just over 5 miles but we didn't know this area at all before moving here.  Although of course we did have a good look around when looking for a house and there were a number of things we wanted on our check list.

Moving into a new area during lockdown in the UK was challenging.  We didn't know the area very well.  We didn't have friends here and of course the pandemic made mixing with others tricky.

Luckily I'm quite a home person and with the arrival of 3 grandchildren in the first 3 months we were here (one on our actual moving day!) I've been kept busy.  But of course as time has gone on I've wanted to meet new people and get involved in the community.

One way that I've done that is to get involved with the local Community Hub by volunteering at one of the two Foodbank sessions they run on Thursdays.

The Hub is based in All Saint's Church and is just a 10 minute walk away.  Highams Park Food Aid was set up to provide food to people in Highams Park and Chingford who needed support in obtaining food supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.  It has continued to provide a food bank on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as a free café session on Wednesdays.  

As pandemic restrictions eased the Hub has continued to provide these services to the community but have added in many more, for example:

Debt advice from Christians Against Poverty

Free haircuts

Access to a Podiatrist

Access to outreach sessions from organisations such as Citizens Advice and Shelter

Advice from The Heet Project on how to:

• Save money on fuel bills
• Stay warm & healthy at home
• Save energy & cut carbon emissions

Access to a group of electrical "fixers" who will do their best to fix broken electrical items.

The aim is to involve the local community by bringing them together through The Hub.  There are also other ways to be involved - a knitting group meets at the Hub on Wednesdays; a gardening group has been set up using the outdoor space behind the church and there are other activities going on e.g. chair aerobics sessions.

I really enjoy volunteering at the Thursday Foodbank session.  I've met a lot of nice people and it feels good to be giving something back to the community.