Charity calls for more community support hubs

More than a third of local authorities (40%) in England are not operating community support hubs, according to new research.

The research by the Carnegie UK Trust found that only 241 local authorities currently have recognisable community support hubs in operation despite local lockdowns rapidly re-emerging around the country.

According to the charity, this leaves some 40% – a further 163 local authorities – without clearly identifiable community hubs that bring together vital support systems.

With a second wave of COVID-19 likely to hit during the winter months, the Carnegie UK Trust is urging local authorities to step up their offer now and learn from the successful deployment of community hubs earlier this year.

With a second wave of COVID-19 likely to hit within months, the Carnegie UK Trust is urging local authorities to step up their offer now and learn from the successful deployment of community hubs earlier this year.

‘The most vulnerable in our society have felt the harshest impact of the coronavirus pandemic. But while people were staying apart, services for vulnerable people were coming together in a way not seen before,’ said trust chief executive, Sarah Davidson.

‘These community hubs threw the public sector rulebook out of the window in order to get the job done – and we must take heed of this as authorities plan for the next phase of the virus.’

The trust has studied four of the successful community support hubs and found that many had to handle thousands of enquiries, mostly seeking food and medical supplies, in the initial weeks after lockdown.

It also found that many hubs had to pivot their response to meet the changing needs of communities, often focusing on mental health.

And it praised the ‘key’ role volunteers played in helping vulnerable people to overcome deprivation, hardship and mental health problems.

‘By working across sectors, community hubs can be the vehicle through which resilient communities are supported and a preventative approach can be taken to poverty, mental health, and financial hardship,’ added Ms Davidson.

‘We would encourage all local authorities to set up formal community support hubs in response to the enduring nature of this pandemic. However, if more funding is not channelled towards these community hubs, we fear many more lives will be lost as an indirect result of the pandemic. Once again, it will be the most vulnerable in society who will suffer most from this.’

Photo Credit – Broesis (Pixabay)