Have your say to shape Hartlepool’s Community Hubs for the future

Launched in 2017, the Hubs aim to act as key community buildings bringing together a range of services from different organisations under one roof, including the library service, and providing events, skills workshops, social groups, health and advice services and much more.

However, the way people use the Hubs and libraries and their expectations of public services continues to evolve – a process which has been heightened by the impact of the Covid pandemic.

Hartlepool Borough Council has launched a 12-week period of public consultation to help it develop a strategy for the Hubs for the next five years.

For the first part of that consultation, it’s asking people to comment on an initial draft vision for the Hubs by taking part in a survey running from Wednesday 22nd December to Wednesday 19th January.

The survey can be accessed online at yoursay.hartlepool.gov.uk/community-hubs where people will also be able to give their experiences of using the Hubs and place their ideas and suggestions on a virtual ‘ideas wall’.

Paper copies of the survey are available in all the town’s Hubs and libraries and people who don’t have internet access at home can use the People’s Network of computers at those venues to take part in the consultation online.

Everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a prize draw for a £50 Amazon voucher.

Councillor Tim Fleming, Chair of the Council’s Adult and Community-Based Services Committee, said: “The community response to the Covid pandemic was amazing, not least through the Support Hub and the many thousands of people whom it has helped.

“However, the pandemic also highlighted the fact that, when it came to continuing to work, shop and socialise, those without the skills or tools to get online were disadvantaged.

“The pandemic has also left some people feeling isolated and anxious, others have experienced mental health issues and others are struggling with the financial impact.

“We need to take all of this into account when developing a strategy for our Community Hubs which encompasses our ambitions of supporting people’s recovery from the pandemic and providing a vibrant and ambitious service which continues to make a significant contribution to the lives and wellbeing of our residents.

“The people of Hartlepool are central to the way our service is designed and developed and so it’s vital that as many people as possible take part in our consultation and help shape that process.”