'New funding means we can support even more people across Chester' 

The work of a community hub based at a Baptist church has been boosted thanks to Government funding

The Crossroads Community Hub run by HBC Chester (Hoole Baptist Church) can increase its opening hours and appoint two new members of staff following a grant of £24,505 from the Government’s Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund.

The Crossroads Community Hub launched in April 2020 during the first lockdown to help people experiencing food poverty in Chester. In 2023 it supplied and gave away 2336 food parcels, which helped to feed 911 households across Chester.

Since opening The Hub has extended its work beyond emergency food. 

It has teamed up with Cheshire West Voluntary Action (CWVA) work to run the Greenway Grocer, which involves a bike using the Greenway cycle path to take affordable fruit and veg to different areas of Chester. The fruit and veg is supplied by Hoole Food Market.

It also opened a cafe called the Meeting Place, which is a designated Warm Space, part of the Warm Welcome campaign. Initially each Friday morning, the Meeting Place is now open on Mondays and Thursdays too. 

Finally the Hub has also been supporting refugees and asylum seekers since 2023, providing food, personal care and hygiene products, clothing, SIM cards and household items. In the past two months it supported 65 sanctuary seekers, and has partnered with Refugee Assist, another local charity, to help do this.

Andy Glover is the minister of HBC, and a director of CC HUB CIC. He said, 'We want to say thank you to the Government for making this possible and enabling us to support, connect and offer practical help and food provision to even more people across Chester during these winter months.

'We are now open for four sessions a week, with the community café, The Meeting Place, registered as a Warm Welcome Space.

'This funding means we can help connect, support and help feed even more individuals and families across Chester.'

The Government’s Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund is being delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK.

Grants will support charities and community organisations in England at the frontline of dealing with the increase in the cost-of-living.