Ever wondered what a day at the Hub looks like?! Well here’s a glimpse behind the scenes….
The day starts at 9am.
I’m too short to reach the lock on the Hub front door, so I have to clamber up the wall slightly. (I get a few funny looks from passers-by.) Jo-Ann, the Hub Director soon joins me in the office and we begin with prayer to prepare us for the day ahead.
9.30am 
Our pastoral carers start to arrive. Today Gwen arrives first – she’s our biscuit-hero and she’s brought a new batch of biscuits for our visitors to enjoy. This makes me very happy (because I get to enjoy them too!) I recommend coming in to try one of her biscuits (or several!)…She’s become quite famous in Harrogate for her baking talents.
10am
Laughter drifts down the stairs from the middle floor. You can always tell when Lynda and Benny have arrived in the building -they bring a lot of joy with them! They are both pastoral carers and they’ve come to set up for the “Real You” course they’re running.
Our regular visitors arrive soon after for the course. These are a group of women who have faced huge challenges in their lives, and each of them have begun a healing journey at the Hub; some have been coming for a few weeks, and some for months. They’ve joined the course to explore questions of identity, faith and self-worth. It’s been amazing to see them grow in self-esteem and friendship over the weeks and months.
Meanwhile, downstairs in our welcome centre, visitors start to arrive for pastoral care. Gwen, Jo-Ann and I are busy welcoming people through the door and making cups of tea and coffee. There’s a real buzz as people start to engage in lively conversation; people are smiling and starting to open up. Jo-Ann sits on the sofa with a young woman having a heart-to-heart, and on our table, we’re talking about our hobbies, whilst enjoying some free entertainment from a curious toddler who’s taking in all the new sights and sounds.
Some have come to the Hub simply for company and friendship, others have stories of grief, mental illness, abuse, and hardship to share and are in need of a listening ear, and some come wanting to find out what activities are being offered by local community groups and churches. It’s good to see people’s spirits lifting as they receive kindness and attention; it feels like there’s a real sense of hope and warmth in the room. We have 7 visitors in all, one of whom has returned specially to thank us for the way we’ve helped someone in her family.
12.00
It’s time to close for lunch (although I’m not massively hungry due to my biscuit consumption…) Once everyone has left, Gwen, Jo-Ann and I spend a few minutes praying. Some of the stories we hear are really heartbreaking and so our prayer time gives us a chance to lay down any burdens we’re carrying.
Someone knocks on the Hub door even though we’re closed and Jo-Ann has to apologise and ask him to come back at 2pm. We’re in the process of rearranging our pastoral care timetable to ensure that we can help as many people as possible. It’s always hard having to turn people away, but we haven’t yet got enough volunteers to be able to keep the Hub open all day. (If you’d like to become a pastoral carer, please get in touch!)
1pm
After lunch, Jo-Ann heads off for a meeting with the Harrogate Borough Council to discuss how we can bless them as they serve town. It’s an exciting opportunity to find out how we can work together to make sure that no one in our community feels forgotten, hopeless, or isolated.
2pm
At the Hub, we have a slightly quieter afternoon. Carol and Sherry are our pastoral carers for the 2-4pm session. A couple of people have made appointments with them and come in for a confidential conversation in the little room at the back. And one of our regular visitors also comes in for a cuppa and a chat; our volunteers are helping her build her confidence and take steps towards her goals at a time when things are changing in her life.
Whilst Carol and Sherry welcome visitors downstairs, I spend the afternoon in the office to plan a talk about the Hub that I’m giving at a local youth group. I’ll be sharing with them about our new youth project and asking them to join us in fundraising for it. The plan is to provide pastoral care to vulnerable young people on an evening at the Hub. If your youth group is interested in fundraising for the project or if you’d like to become a pastoral carer for the project, we’d love to hear from you.
3pm
We’re visited by one of the staff from Harrogate theatre. They’re putting on a show, ‘100 ways to tie a shoe lace’, which explores memory loss in a light-hearted and real way. It’s great to hear about shows like this, which help tackle issues that can sometimes be stigmatised in our community. Part of my job, as Charity Officer is to help raise awareness of the struggles faced by people in our town.
Harrogate has a ‘Happygate’ façade, which sometimes makes it hard for those who are struggling to seek the support they need. It’s easy to feel like everyone else is leading the perfect, idyllic Harrogate life, and so part of our mission at the Hub is to encourage people in our community that it’s ok to ask for help.
Everyone goes through seasons of great difficulty and we’re here for people whatever challenges they’re facing.
4pm
The Hub closes its doors, and Richard, one of our dedicated volunteers, starts cleaning and tidying up. I have a little chat with Carol and Sherry before they head off.
5pm
I’ve finished my work in the office and Richard has made the Hub look all sparkly, clean and tidy! On my way out, I clamber up the wall again to lock the Hub door (cue more funny looks from passers-by). It’s been a busy day, but a very positive one. It’s so encouraging to see that more people are hearing about the Hub’s services and finding a place of community and hope here.
If you could help us spread the word about the Hub, please drop in and pick up some of our posters or bookmarks. Or if you’re online, have a look at our social media pages, follow us, and share our news with your friends. Together, we can shape a community, where no one has to suffer alone and where everyone feels loved and valued.
twitter.com/thehubHG1 www.instagram.com/theharrogatehub/ www.facebook.com/TheHarrogateHub/
Written by
Ella Green