With the news that they have secured a major part of their funding, the directors of the Grassington Hub are allowing themselves a small celebration. Everything looks set for their premises to open officially in July, after a nail-biting year of negotiation, frustration, and hard work.

 

The idea of a village “Hub” came from a small group of locals almost exactly one year ago. Feeling that the village had become rather rudderless, and was losing services rather than progressing, the group, comprising members of the Parish Council, Chamber of Trade, Grassington Festival, and the professional sector decided that the area needed a central focus for information and a springboard for village initiatives.

 

They joined forces with the Library Group, who had been trying for two years to restore a library in Grassington, and developed the concept. A public meeting last year saw almost unanimous enthusiasm for the idea, and with some funding sources identified they formed a steering group: then, with a lot of help from “working groups” of villagers keen to get involved, started the mammoth task.

 

Hub Chairman Andrew Colley said “We could see all around that other villages were doing things to help themselves, while Grassington was in the doldrums. This obviously struck a chord with many other locals. We’re proud that we’ve got this far, particularly at a time when nobody is throwing money at anything.”

 

“The Library Group had wanted to house the library in the Town Hall, but North Yorkshire turned this option down, so other suitable premises had to be found. Luckily, the ideal building was available, just off Grassington Square. North Yorkshire County Council liked what they saw and immediately offered us the facilities to set up a library there.”

 

The Hub will extend the library by offering local information and facilities such as a digital display screen, databases, a village brochure and magazine, a box office facility, and office services. It’ll also be a place to come and chat, find out what’s going on, and be able to air opinions or ideas.

 

A number of outreach services have been negotiated. Perhaps the most exciting of these is the Telemedicine Project in collaboration with Airedale Hospital. In what is probably the country’s first such venture with rural outreach, a video link will connect the Hub to the outpatient department at Airedale, so that suitable outpatients from the area will be able to have a hospital consultation without having to travel outside the village. A nurse will be present in the Hub to perform examinations or blood tests where needed.

 

Other outreach services include Yorkshire Housing, and the North Yorkshire Credit Union, whilst others are planned.

 

A full-time manager will look after a team of volunteers, who will be trained to act as librarians and to use the IT equipment at the Hub. If anyone is interested in spending a few hours a week in this exciting venture, they should contact Mel Morgan-Davies, the volunteer co-ordinator, on the volunteer hotline 0752 116 9383, or email him at mmd.hubvols@hotmail.co.uk

 

At a meeting with Julian Smith, our newly elected MP, he expressed his excitement at the idea and is happy to become our patron. He has also agreed to open the Hub officially at out forthcoming open day and intends to hold surgeries at the Hub in the future.

   Lets Keep In Touch!

It's essential to the operation of the Hub that communication is a two way process. We need your contributions to make it a true community enterprise. Please get in touch about any of the following:

    Volunteering to help with the Hub

    News about your group or society

    Suggestions for the Hub's activity

    Contributions and ideas for community magazine

Simply email - info@grassington.uk.com and keep an eye on this page for further updates.