Between 2011 and 2021, Broad Oak served as a dynamic, self-funded Community Hub,

exemplifying the principles of “welcoming and belonging” "Community and Spiritual well-being.”

 

During this decade, a dedicated team serviced by facilitating groups and happenings benefiting people Fram all walks of life.

The Hub offered an extensive array of services, which greatly enriched the lives of local residents and fostered a strong sense of community.

These services included:

Love Bexhill:

A welcoming space offering Fareshare Food, a Community Freezer and Fridge, alongside weekly support groups such as:

Bubs, Bumps & Tots

Breastfeeding Support

S.E.W (Sew-Eat-Wear sewing and up-cycling classes)

Cookery classes utilising Fareshare food and produce from the Hub’s allotment

Create & Connect (a subsidised coffee shop offering crafting activities)

Bounce Back (focused on cultivating the Garden of Dreams)

O.A.P Bridge Club

Music lessons

DIY carpentry and whittling workshops

Reading lessons

Pampering and educational events in partnership with local beauty businesses

Therapeutic art and music sessions

 

Over the years we also hosted not for profit shared space for various groups and activities, including:

Foster carers and voluntary support groups

Amateur dramatics societies

Parents of autistic children

Therapy groups

Police drop-ins

Mediation for supervised parental visits

Bexhill in Bloom meetings

Allotments general meetings

Birdwatchers’ gatherings

Dende Drumming workshops

 

Free chaplaincy Services were also available:

A non-judgmental listening and support service operating seven days a week, addressing needs such as:

depression, self-harm, addiction, domestic violence, sexual abuse, relational tensions, poverty, infertility, bereavement, unemployment, homelessness, workplace bullying, and sickness.

Notable examples of support include:

• An individual deeply affected by their involvement in a tragic public incident, receiving support for trauma.

• A parent whose child experienced severe assault and required medical care, offered emotional and practical guidance.

• A person contemplating suicide after a relationship breakdown, found in distress and provided with compassionate support.

• An individual facing abuse from their partner amid financial difficulties linked to addiction, supported with resources and care.

• A professional overwhelmed by intense workloads during a public health crisis, given emotional and practical assistance.

• A family with young children facing homelessness supported with housing, furnishings, food help finding work.

• A woman who resorted to desperate measures due to financial hardship, provided with support to regain stability.

• Foster carers and children in separate placements navigating complex challenges, offered guidance and resources.

• A widow raising young children after the loss of her spouse, supported through grief and parenting challenges.

• An individual coping with the violent loss of a close family member, provided with emotional care.

• A healthcare worker facing a serious illness and major surgery, supported with meals and childcare assistance.

 

We also provided a sacred space for quiet worship, reflection, and activities such as stillness, art, readings, music, and gardening.

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