RESIDENTS in Clent have celebrated the opening of a new community hub forged out of tough Covid times when villagers pulled together to help each other.
The new Clent Connect Community Hub was officially launched on Saturday March 11 at Clent Parish Hall in Church Avenue.
Dignitaries, councillors and local residents attended the opening which local business leader Caroline Howard, of Our Plaice, said was a “really successful day with well over a hundred attending”.
There was cake and a ribbon cutting as the new venture was officially unveiled.
Rosie Padmore, director and one of the founding members of the newly-formed charity Clent Connect, said the opening of the new central meeting hub, which boasts a café and a shop selling essential groceries, locally-made jams, chutneys and arts and crafts, was a “landmark moment in the history of Clent”.
She said: “Getting to this point of opening the doors has certainly been a journey of challenges but these have been totally outweighed by joy, enrichment and hope as the community came together with enthusiastic support and encouragement.
“We would like to say a really big thank you to all volunteers and supporters - here’s to a new beginning for the community and the development of lots more ideas coming to life.”
Residents in Clent have praised the new hub, which adjoins the parish hall.
Villager Shirley Jordan said: “The people that organised it can’t be praised enough, it just links all the villagers together and is a place to come they allow dogs in and you can go for a walk, bring the dog, have a cup of coffee, meet someone you haven’t met before and it’s just a marvellous thing for the community.”
The hub is open on Mondays from 9am to 5pm, Wednesdays from 9am to 1pm, Fridays from 9am to 5pm and Saturdays from 10am to 2pm.
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