Newly opened at Sturminster Newton, the Vale Family Hub offers vital community support for North Dorset residents
All images: Courtenay Hitchcock
‘How did we get here? Blood, sweat, tears, sauvignon blanc, HRT and hair dye!’ says Cllr Carole Jones. But the Vale Family Hub has finally opened in North Dorset. As leader of the Family Hub and Local Alliance Group chair, Carole has spent years working to create a space where people can find practical support, community, and – importantly – great coffee.
‘When we started the Vale Pantry, it was about affordable food for disadvantaged families,’ says Carole. ‘But food is only a sticking plaster. You can’t mend what’s going on until you can dig underneath. We started to ask ourselves how we could get people back on their feet, and quite swiftly our work began to evolve. We began doing a lot more, to great success, but we were so limited in the Pantry, we needed space.’
When Carole saw the enormous – derelict and leaky – warehouse on the industrial estate, she knew it was a potential answer.
The new Sturminster Hub, Dorset Council’s main Hub in its northern area, has received funding to provide at least 24 statutory services, including early parenting support, speech and language therapy, SEND support, infant feeding advice, domestic abuse support, debt, housing and benefits advice and children’s social care.
But for Carole, it’s about much more than a list of services.
‘When you’re going through a tough time, sometimes you need advice. And sometimes, you just want to offload,’ she says. ‘It was key to have a warm, welcoming space where people can simply come in, sit down and talk. And have a proper coffee. Honestly, it’s great coffee. Our coffee machine is brilliant!’
A network of support
The Hub has brought together a wide range of services and professionals, from paediatric nurses and former social workers to mental health volunteers and police liaison officers. Carole hopes to see midwife and health visitor appointments added to the list, alongside drop-in sessions from organisations like HomeStart, Dorset Mind, DorPip (a parent-infant relationship service) and the social prescribing team.
Collaboration with local schools is a priority. ‘We’re open from 7.30am for breakfast club until 6.30pm, six days a week,’ Carole says. The affordable food provision of the Vale Pantry has also moved over, continuing its membership scheme to help families put food on the table.
The funding challenge
Opening the Family Hub has already cost £285,000, with the final figure expected to reach £300,000. Running it will require around £350,000 a year. Carole admits that it has been an exhausting task raising the money: ‘I write funding bids constantly. All the time. Two today, one yesterday. It never stops. Ever.’
Recent support has included a £40,000 Lottery grant and £48,000 from Dorset Council towards salaries over two years. ‘We’ve been able to employ four people – each of whom first came to us in crisis, needing food and support themselves. They understand what people are going through.’
But long-term sustainability remains a concern. ‘I’d love someone to focus on sponsorship and corporate fundraising, but we can’t afford to employ them. I think we’re okay until the end of the year.’
A growing demand
Currently, the Vale Pantry is supporting 360 families, but Carole expects that number to rise rapidly. ‘There’s been nowhere locally for young mums to bring their little ones – here they can let them run riot in the soft play area while they enjoy a coffee and a chat. We’re starting a Bumps to Babes group too. We also need to support older people – so many are isolated. A lunch club could make a real difference.’
The Hub is working with local schools to provide an alternative space for students at risk of exclusion. ‘Sometimes they just need a different approach. We bring them in, make them part of the team, and it’s transformative.’
Carole is also determined to launch a much-needed youth group. ‘Despite years of talk, there’s still no youth club in the town. I want to start with Year Six pupils, working with them for a year before they move to secondary school. If we get them at that age, we can build resilience and confidence, and and they can then mentor the younger ones, as the next Year Six group starts.’
How to Help
As always with community ventures, volunteers are the backbone of the Hub, with 70% of volunteer hours given by people who have needed the Vale Pantry’s services themselves. ‘Some of their stories would make you weep – though some would make you howl with laughter,’ says Carole.With an ageing Dorset population – 30% of residents are over 65, compared with a UK average of 19% – Carole knows demand will only increase. ‘In the next ten years, the number of people aged 80 and over is going to jump by 46% in this area. But it’s not just the elderly. Rural Dorset wages are low – farm, shop and care workers make up a large part of our community – and they’re struggling. There are more than 6,000 people on the housing list.
‘We need genuinely affordable, socially rented housing – the new builds going up everywhere are out of reach for most.’
Carole is keen to acknowledge those who have driven the Hub’s development. ‘My manager Kim is an absolute force of nature. She’s an unbelievable woman. She came to us in real need initially, and she just makes the most amazing things happen. And we must thank Hammonds, who have been absolutely fantastic. I mean, they didn’t just do it at cost – I know they lost money. But they did it all with such a smile on their faces. This was a derelict, leaky warehouse, and they just made it happen for us. Our landlords, Northover, have been fantastic too.’
For those wanting to help, Carole is clear: ‘Just come in and get involved! Whether it’s working with young people, helping older residents, or simply lending a hand, there’s so much you can do. And if you can’t give your time, financial support is invaluable.
‘I don’t care if it’s £2 a month or £100. No amount is too small: knowing what’s coming in makes a real difference. If someone offers £100, I’ll always say, ‘Could I have £10 a month instead?’ because that security allows us to plan ahead. It helps enormously. We can actually say, “OK, we can now afford to take six more families in this week,” for example.’
The Vale Family Hub is already changing lives. With continued support, it has the potential to transform the North Dorset community for years to come.
To offer help, please drop in to the Hub or email
Visit The Vale Family Hub at 22B Butts Pond, Sturminster Newton DT10 1AZ.
More information about
Family Hubs can be found on the Dorset Council website at dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/family-hubs.
