Celebrations as South Shields community hub clocks up milestone visitor numbers

Sarah Wiscombe was greeted with champagne and a range of other prizes when she went Westoe Crown Community Hub, in Westoe, South Shields, - becoming the 10,000th visitor through its doors.

The surprise was put together to mark the occasion for the centre, built on the former site of Westoe Colliery, which opened its doors for the first time last July.

Hub manager Nick Roberts said: “We are really pleased for Sarah who is one of the Hub’s regular visitors. We wanted to recognise the milestone of 10,000th visitor which we have reached in less than a year of opening.

“It’s a far cry from when the building lay empty for almost six years. Numbers are growing every day as local people tell us the sorts of things they would like to see at the Hub. We are determined to hit 20,000 very soon.”

The mum, who was presented with her gifts as she visited an activity session with her two children, also received a Fenwick’s Hamper donated by Potts Gray estate management company as well as free room hire for a children’s party and activity session vouchers.

The Hub was officially opened in December by former miner Jimmy Rylance, aged 91.

Since then, the number of activity sessions provided by the hub has grown, helping to attract more people through the doors.

The Hub, owned by the residents of Westoe Crown, is managed by a Community Trust and operated by Asset Base Community Interest Company, which reinvests all its profits in the building and providing services to improve the health and wellbeing of residents.

The building had been dormant for five years but thanks to support from the Community Trust and Coalfields Regeneration Trust it has been revamped into a thriving centre for the community.

A range of activities are on offer at The Hub suitable for all ages and abilities from five months to 90 plus.

For details on activities visit www.westoe-hub.co.uk/