The monthly Dunston Hub illustrates community spirit in its truest form, creating an event which brings villagers with goods to sell, services to promote and skills to share together with others who have time to talk and news to spread.
Set up in response to diminishing services, it ties in with the arrival of the travelling Post Office, butchery and fish monger and allows residents to bring anything they have for sale from plants and produce to pickles, preserves and provisions.
Diana Hammond, who set it up a year ago with Jean Ford, said it had proved hugely successful and inspired neighbouring Nocton and Metheringham to start their own monthly hubs as the idea spreads across the District.”It’s a sort of cross between drop-in, community shop and coffee morning, meeting all of those functions and much more beside,” said Diana. In addition to the social benefits of increased community cohesion, the Hub has also offers a small income stream for crafts people and clubs and raises funds for local causes such as village hall tables.
Bill and Dot Franklin have seen village amenities decline through their 68 years in the village from two post offices, three butchers, five pubs, a chippie and many others, but think the Dunston Hub revives community spirit and wellbeing. “It does help to get the community together, from the youngest to the oldest, and is always a lively afternoon,” said Mrs Franklin.
To keep this fantastic initiative alive and others that are similar throughout the District it is important that local people continue to offer support in any way they can, whether it be offering services as a volunteer or simply doing some shopping instead of venturing into town.