Community Hub is open for business

THE new Stratford-upon-Avon Samaritans’ Community Hub is open for business.

Thanks to a £420,000 Community Challenge grant awarded by Stratford Town Trust, the charity has converted Tyler House, in Tyler Street, into a community hub, to share with other charities and community groups.

Samaritans has a purpose-built suite on the first floor and other organisations can hire the other offices, either permanently, weekly, for occasional meetings, or for hot-desking.

A large space on the ground floor can be used for bigger events.

Jill Young, director of Stratford Samaritans, said: “It’s vastly different compared to our former home in Shakespeare Street, we absolutely love it. The architects wanted to create a happy building — they have and it’s wonderfully light. The building has exceeded our expectations.”

Chairman, Alan Booth, added: “We wanted to create an affordable space in the centre of town, and this was the vision for other charities and community organisations.”

The hub has already formed partnerships with community group Sunny Side Up, drop-in clinic Doorway, Push Projects, charity Al-Anon, staff training for Heart of England Mencap, iLeap, and Welcombe Community Radio.

It has also been supported by architects Corstorphine and Wright, in Warwick, the Municipal Charities of Stratford, furniture has been donated by NFU Mutual, as well as desks and a boardroom table from Pure Office Solutions, in Warwick.

DCS in Stratford, has also designed the new logo for Tyler House through the Businesses Supporting Stratford initiative. The Samaritans own the property in Shakespeare Street where they were previously based, and plan to convert and rent it out to help fund Tyler House.