BWCE Fund supports The Hive - a buzzing centre for Peasedown

The Hive community library

Earlier this year the BWCE Fund gave a £5000 grant to The Hive Community Centre in Peasedown St John to install Cavity Wall Insulation. BWCE volunteer Helen Turnbull went to meet Joy Fraser and Calvin Bird to find out what they do and how they have used the grant.

The Hive is a community centre in Peasedown St John, offering a huge range of facilities and resources, serving as a hub to the village. When Bath & North East Somerset Council were no longer able to run the building, risking the Youth Work that took place there, this community project spearheaded by Joy Fraser began. With the support of residents from Peasedown St John, The Methodist Church, St John’s Church, St Joseph’s Church, Medlock Trust and many other groups, the vision for The Hive blossomed. The aim was to create a facility open to all residents to hire out for activities, to be a vibrant space for youth work and above all, a heart to the village that the community could enjoy.

From this initial vision, the Hive has transformed; from SWALLOW café, a community fridge, a community library, a play area, a sports hall, an arts and crafts room, hot desks and meeting rooms, this building has quickly become an impactful installation in the village. Crucially, the Youth Work was able to continue – a greatly beneficial service. Joy recounted the story of a young person attending a youth session on their birthday and when asked they said, “they would rather be here with their friends than anywhere else”.

The Hive Community Fridge

It was also noted that one of the volunteers joined The Hive shortly after losing their husband and they became instrumental in setting up one of the bereavement groups. This volunteer now carries responsibility for the running of the Food Pantry and says that volunteering saved their life. The impact of the presence of The Hive is clearly of great importance to the local community, so keeping this hub running as a warm, inviting and financially secure centre is paramount.

The Hive is financially supported through fundraising, so every penny really does count. The Hive’s energy bills were very costly due to the building fabric’s inefficiency, so they were a big drain on their funds. Bath & West Community Energy gave £5,000 from the community fund toward the installation of cavity wall insulation. The insulation was installed in February this year and it is predicted to reduce The Hive’s energy bills by 10%. By lowering their energy bills, The Hive is closer to achieving their goal of financial self-sufficiency. Whilst SWALLOW Café is already covering its running costs, the Hive has set a goal for total financial independence in three years’ time and improving their energy efficiency further with solar panels, LED lighting and fixing draughty doors and windows is all part of their plan for the future. The BWCE community fund grant has enabled the Hive’s “welcoming space” to continue to buzz and develop, changing the “whole feel of Peasedown positively”.

Moving forwards, The Hive are keen to promote their facilities to regular sports activities, craft groups, social groups and kids’ birthday parties. The committee is keen to welcome any more volunteers or charitable donations to keep this wonderful centre buzzing.Moving forwards, The Hive are keen to promote their facilities to regular sports activities, craft groups, social groups and kids’ birthday parties. The committee is keen to welcome any more volunteers or charitable donations to keep this wonderful centre buzzing.

To learn more, please contact The Hive on:
01761 360021
info@thehivepsj.org

The Hive Community Centre
Bath Road
Peasedown St John
BA2 8DH