THE Kings Arms Community Hub in the heart of Wellington town centre is making a real difference – that is official!

Members of Wellington Town Council’s community committee were recently told that a resident experiencing homelessness and living in temporary accommodation approached the Kings Arms in the High Street looking for practical advice and emotional support.

The council’s community development officer, Laura Batcha, in a report, said: “Working the with the community team and with support from local partners, immediate assistance was provided including food support, information on housing and benefits, signposting to community groups and ongoing emotional support.

“The resident has since secured a viewing for a permanent home and continues to engage with the community hub.”

The person concerned thanked everyone at the hub for their support and said that “their kindness, support and willingness to listen” had helped her through an “incredibly difficult period.”

“This case demonstrates how the King’s Arms Community Hub brings together staff, volunteers and partner organisations to provide early intervention, practical support and hope, helping residents move from crisis towards stability,” added the report.

Councillors were told on July 20 that between May 11 and July 1, the community hub had seen 711 people of all ages attend various activities – to show how well-used the facility was becoming.

It was back in late 2022 when Falcon Rural Housing Association began work on turning the pub building – which had stood empty for seven years – into a community hub on the ground floor and social rented flats on the upper floors.

Falcon worked closely with the town council on a partnership agreement for the facility which has seen it become a multi-use community space on the ground floor used by groups such as churches, voluntary organisations, small charities and local council and public health agencies.