Day: 4 July 2023

It is an astonishing piece of our city history that FIFTEEN CENTURIES after it was first built, and still bearing the name of the grandson of the King of Brest, St Budeaux Parish Church continues to provide and care for its parishioners. Since the creation of the Community Church Hall in the 1960’s, the church has extended its reach, and now supports more than a hundred people a week through a variety of groups, clubs and communities. Now with news of a £52,775 donation from Biffa Award for a much-needed new roof, St Budeaux residents can still cry: “Thanks be to Budoc!”

The sixty-year-old building has undergone a series of improvements since the St Budeaux Church Community Hall Development Committee was established in 2010 to regenerate the hall. With the on-going support of the POP ideas team, the fundraisers have helped to secure money to pay for new windows; a catering-kitchen; access and facilities for people with disabilities and new toilets (for the ladies). And now, says Liz Webb, one of the fundraisers, they can finally replace the original roof:

“It’s such wonderful news! This is the biggest grant we’ve received and means we can replace the original copper roof which is leaking and has been repaired many times. We’ll also be reclaiming the copper, selling it, and reinvesting the money for the benefit of our community.”

With more than twenty-five clubs, groups and organisations taking place each week, the hall is a centre for fun and fellowship for this densely populated part of Plymouth. There is also a weekly drop-in session and food larder run in partnership with the charity Christians Against Poverty who offer debt advice and financial support to individuals and families. And the hall is a much-loved local venue for celebrations, such as, birthday parties and anniversaries.

“Without a new roof,” says Liz, “it is extremely unlikely that we would have been able to carry on. We are so grateful to Biffa Award that we are going to raise the roof with a party on Saturday 22nd July for everyone!”

The celebrations will begin at 1.30pm with the unveiling of the Biffa Award plaque by the Reverend Stephen Beach, Vicar of St Stephens, who is retiring after 22 years of devotion and service to the parish.

The Village Hub opened its doors in the middle of Covid, ironically, as a place for people to come together, to share and to have fun. Run-down, dirty and empty it was transformed by a team of committed volunteers into a much-loved, welcoming and lively community space.

Lots has happened since those early days… numerous coffee mornings and lunches; creative and crafting workshops galore and frequent sociable trips out & about. There has been an abundance of planting with the recent establishment of a communal garden on the site of the former public toilets; new trees and planters throughout the village and the park and the restoration of the courtyard garden at the back of the Village Hub.

There has also been growth among the staff: there is now a team of eight paid workers at the Hub with everyone sharing the load and working less than twenty hours a week. A grant to help cover core costs until 2027 from the National Lottery Reaching Communities has allowed the team to start to think about the impact of what they do on individuals. Karen Pilkington, one of the Directors of the Village Hub, says they are considering how they embed the notion of ‘care’ into their work:

“We are exploring community coaching; training in how to hold great conversations; becoming trauma informed for ourselves and for others and learning how to deal with conflict in positive and affirming ways.”

And, of course, there’s the positivity that comes from a good ol’ fashioned knees up: join the volunteers from the Village Hub celebrate the best of Stoke at this year’s Stoke Village Fun Day on the 16th of July. It will be blooming wonderful! For more information: www.thevillagehub.org.uk