This month, the East Marsh Community Hub situated on Pasture Street has welcomed locals into a space where hospitality extends beyond a simple café. What was once referred to as the Uniform Hut, the centre has undergone a transformation into an inclusive environment, boasting facilities including a soft play area, a sensory room, a party pamper space, and a café. The brains behind this operation, Kerrie Bennett and Rebecca Muson, have adapted their former enterprise to cater for the broad needs of the community.
“The turn from being a school uniform outlet to creating a place where all individuals feel a sense of belonging was a natural evolution,” Kerrie notes. “The hub’s doors are open to all individuals, we strive to be SEN friendly, and our regular customers have turned into friends,” she adds. Rebecca explains how the reformation of the East Marsh Community Hub CIC in October 2023 radically revolutionised the way they operate. “We initiated this change with dance groups, and continued to expand our offer based on the feedback from the community. Today, our facilities include a sensory room, soft play, a pamper room and our recently inaugurated café,” she mentions.
The multipurpose hub continues to be a crucial school uniform resource and has plans to spread its roots upwards into a youth zone. One of the frequent visitors, Lesley Sykes, talked about her experiences at the hub with her daughter Hallie. “Hallie is fond of the sensory room and the introduction of the café has made the hub an even better resource for the community,” she opines.
The hub hosts charity events, such as fundraising for children’s heart surgery. Another patron, Courtney Thompson, sees the hub as a second home for her and her son. “The hub takes into consideration our needs and always endeavours to accommodate them,” she admits. Shane Butts, a recent addition to the hub’s board of directors, has been fostering integration of students from Phoenix Park into the work scene through work experience opportunities.
Open from Tuesday to Saturday between 9 am and 5 pm, the East Marsh Community Hub, along with its friendly Café Delight, extends a warm welcome to everyone. This story is an adapted version of the original article featured on www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
