Newbridge Community Turns Out in Force to Save Our Hub!
- Jul 9
- 2 min read
The Newbridge and Weston community came together in remarkable numbers on Saturday, 4th July, for a very busy coffee and cake fundraising event at the Weston Methodist Church.
While we didn’t keep a strict headcount, we estimate that between 200 and 300 people walked through our doors. The sheer volume of attendees filled the hall with warm, bustling conversation, proving just how much this historic building means to the local community.
Our primary goal was to raise vital funds to help us take control of the church building, following the Methodist Church’s announcement of their intention to dispose of the property. Time is of the essence if we want to save this space; the building is nominated as an Asset of Community Value until 26th November. We have until then to secure a deal to take control of the building.
We’re thrilled to announce that the amount raised considerably exceeded our expectations. Thanks to your generosity, we raised around £1,900!
This incredible total was made possible by local residents who baked between 40 and 50 delicious cakes. Every single slice sold and every donation made goes directly toward securing the building. This massive turnout and financial success is a sure sign that the community wants this space to remain as OUR community centre.
What made the day truly special was seeing the diversity of people who attended. The event was a genuine cross-section of local life, bringing together people of all ages. We welcomed parents with tiny babies, energetic young children enjoying the treats, middle-aged residents catching up with neighbours, and elderly community members who have known this building for decades. Seeing these generations mix under one roof showed us perfectly why saving this space is so critical. It remains one of the few places where the entire community can naturally gather and connect.
In addition to raising money, we wanted to ensure that the future of the building reflects the actual needs of the people who live here.
To capture your vision, we set up a dedicated ideas board. The response was overwhelming. Attendees posted around 100 ideas and suggestions for how the space could be utilised moving forward.
The Newbridge Community Hub team is currently sorting through and analysing every sticky note to find the common themes and most viable projects.
We’re compiling these thoughts into a summary report and will publish the results right here very soon.
We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who made this day possible. Thank you to our incredible bakers, those who poured endless cups of coffee and tea, and everyone who donated. This event was a great start and a big first step forward. But…. the clock is ticking, and our campaign needs to maintain this momentum and grow quickly, so look out for the next events. Thank you for standing with us to protect our community hub.
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