Grant boost for Hub revamp

Our Hub revamp has received a boost through a £5000 grant from a national organisation supporting theatres.

The coffee bar is thriving after a facelift which freshened it up, improved doorways and added eco-friendly heating, lighting and window film.

Now the £85,000 scheme funded through a combination of grants and local money-raising has had the bonus of a £5000 grant from the Theatres Trust.

The Trust is a national advisory body for theatres which has just announced grants totalling more than £93,000 from its Small Grants Programme supported by The Linbury Trust to 19 theatres to help them to improve their sustainability, access and viability.

The Hub qualified through its efforts to make the venue more accessible and environmentally sustainable, enabling the theatre to provide a warm and safe space for local residents.

Over the past two years, the café has become a key support hub for the community in the face of social isolation and the cost of living crisis.

Theatre director Debbie Thompson said: “We are so grateful to the Theatres Trust, as this funding will allow us to develop the community activities in The Hub café, we know how vital this space is for local people and how events there can act as a gateway to the Theatre programme. The Hub café will benefit with final remedial works to make it a welcoming and fully accessible space for everyone.”

Theatres Trust director Jon Morgan added: “We are delighted to support such a range of theatres across the UK, including a number of small scale, community and volunteer run theatres, to expand on the good work they are already doing to improve accessibility, sustainability and viability.”

The Trust promotes access to good quality theatre buildings which meet the needs of their communities.

Its small grants programme was launched thanks to £300,000 of funding over the next three years from the Linbury Trust which was established by Lord Sainsbury and his wife Anya, Lady Sainsbury to support projects in the areas of culture, environment, social and community welfare.