Community

NEW Community Forum starts Friday!

September 24, 2023 Community Community Forum Community Resilience Forum

We invite you to Wellingborough Organisations Community Forum at 2:00pm on the last Friday of every month Friday; and our forum re-starts this Friday where you can either join in on Zoom or in person at ECO HUB, Glamis Hall, NN8 3RU, where refreshments will also be available.

  • Join us to connect with other people working in Wellingborough.
  • Share what you are doing in our community.

Anyone people from across our community can join us, including representatives from churches, charities, businesses, community groups, local government, and people with no affiliation. This is networking opportunity for all, the forum will be recorded and shared on YouTube, on our website, via Co-op Member Pioneer Wellingborough and across social media, to publicise what’s on in Wellingborough.

The Community Forum has replaced our Community Resilience Forum, join us at 2:00pm with a shorter format of 40 minutes, that will no longer have a presentation so we can concentrate on connecting with each other and communicating what we are all doing in the next month. The point is so more people can join in, delegates at ECO HUB will have the opportunity to stay for a cup of tea and a chat off camera till 3:00.

At the start of the forum, everyone will be given the chance to introduce themselves and, if applicable, the organisation they represent. To help the host, Jonathan, before the event, he wants to know a little bit about you and what activities you are doing. You don’t have to register to join us, but you do need to register for the Zoom link by filling in this form:

Please enter your email, so we can follow up with you.
Please add your position within your organisation or what you do if you do not represent an organisation.
If not, don't worry, we're just checking if we have your details already.
*See note below form

*Your details including your email address will be stored securely on a contact list at the Co-op. Your contact details will not be shared. Jonathan in his capacity as Co-op Member Pioneer may contact you about other forums or projects, unless you request otherwise.

The forum will be recorded and shared on YouTube and details will be published on the Wellingborough Organisations website. Both will also be shared on social media, with the aims of growing the forum and sharing ideas. At the start of every forum, we will ask you all for permission to share your name, organisation and for your permission for us to use photos or video recordings taken. If you prefer, you can also state in the ‘Comments’ box above if you do not want us to share your name and/or have photos or video recordings of you shared.

If you would like to find out more about the Community Resilience Forum, including watching some of them, have a look at our Community Resilience Forum page.

Wellingborough Library

June 13, 2022 Community Service

Wellingborough Library is a large, busy library in the heart of town. In addition to having a large selection of fiction, non-fiction, children’s books and audio books available to borrow the library also offers a wide range of services to customers. 

  • Printing, photocopying and scanning
  • Computer use
  • Room hire for meetings and training events
  • Study space
  • Children and family activities
  • Craft and chatter group
  • Reading group
  • Bus pass and Blue Badge application support
  • Opportunities for volunteering

There is disabled access via a lift and disabled toilets.

The library has a very active Friends group who are a group of people who value the role of the Library and help create a Library Service that works for the whole community. The Friends hold various events to raise money for additional resources at the library such as children’s handwashing unit and crafting materials. To get involved please visit the library to find out more about joining the Friends.

Opening hours

​​Opens​Closes
​Monday​​9am​​6pm
​Tuesday​​9am​​6pm
​Wednesday​​9am​​6pm
​Thursday​​9am​​6pm
​Friday​​​​9am​​6pm
​Saturday​​9am5pm
​SundayClosedClosed​

You will find them at Pebble Lane, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 1AS. Please follow their Facebook page for information about their activities.

Access For All Wellingborough

April 21, 2022 Community Service

Access For All Wellingborough Northants aims to improve practical access to use the town facilities and public transport. One of their priorities is to make wheelchair accessible taxis more available and to ensure ramps are provided where required.​

Group leader Aran Whiting said “if you are disabled, providers of public transport must not treat you less favorably than they would treat a person who isn’t disabled. Unless, they can show that the treatment is justified, they have the same duties as other providers of services.​”

From missing dropped curbs to pavements blocked by selfish drivers, disabled people are struggling to get about in Wellingborough. Tell the group about your access issues.

The group is there to give disabled people a voice, appealing to businesses to make reasonable adjustments in shops restaurants and public transport services. It’s also there to assist with access issues in surrounding areas too.

For more information or to report an access issue, look at the Access For All page, join the Facebook Group or contact Access For All via email.

Animals in Need

January 15, 2022 Community Food and Drink Service

Animals in Need are an organisation dedicated to rescuing sick, injured, trapped and distressed wild and domestic animals. They provide veterinary treatment where necessary, care for and rehabilitate animals until they can be released or re-homed. Animals In Need was set up in 1990, the aim of the organization is alleviate suffering in animals.

The animal Shelter is at Pine Tree Farm, London Road, Little Irchester, Northamptonshire, NN8 2EH and is open to the public between 12 midday and 3pm Tuesday to Sunday. It is run by 8 members of staff and a team of volunteers at Pine Tree Farm and out attending to both domestic and wild animals in the Northamptonshire area. They also work with Northamptonshire Police attending road traffic accidents and out of hours emergencies.

Here founder of Animals in Need, Roy Marriott, tells us about the charity with a rescued pig, Ruby.

Feeding and caring for the injured animals they rescue is most important especially in cases of young orphaned birds, which need hand feeding every hour from dawn till dusk. Also young hedgehogs which haven’t reached the required weight to survive hibernation over the winter months, need to be kept warm and fed as do swans that have incurred injuries, many from fishing tackle that they have swallowed or become entangled in.

Support Animals in Need

The shelter has a vegan cafe which is open 11:00 until 4:00 Saturday and Sunday. Pop in for some wonderful vegan food, breakfasts, toasty, shepherds pie, mac n cheese, or beyond burger with chips. There are incredible cakes from Motley bakes plus sweets and chocolate. All funds raised support the animals in there care. Hand sanitiser, masks and gloves are all available.

Every year they try to give all of the animals at Animals in Need a Christmas gift. They have a fundraising stall at Morrisons supermarket in Wellingborough on Saturday, Sunday and Monday for donations. Please consider a gift for an unwanted animal while you are Christmas shopping. You can also donate gifts at the sanctuary or at their charity shop.

The charity shop is at 89 Lea Red, Abington, Northampton. It is open 9am until 5pm Monday to Saturday but closed on Sundays. Why not pop in and grab a Christmas bargain whilst raising vital funds for the animals at the shelter. If you don’t like shopping, why not surprise your friends and family with an animal sponsorship, details can be found and more at http://animals-in-need.org

Barnardo’s

December 15, 2021 Charity Shop Community

Shopping pre-loved may not be your first thought when it comes to buying a gift, but you can something incredibly unique and extra special. Barnardo’s Wellingborough is a treasure trove full of amazing pre-loved gift ideas. From vintage and one off pieces, unique homeware, and a huge selection of books and toys. There really is something for everyone!

Here Alise shows you around the store and tells you a bit more bout Barnardo’s

Barnardo’s transforms the lives of the most vulnerable children in Northamptonshire and across the UK through the work of their services, campaigns, and research expertise. The charity believes they can bring out the best in every child, whether the issue is child poverty, sexual exploitation, disability, or domestic violence. They help young people leaving care, children with a parent in prison, and provide early intervention for families struggling to cope. Barnardo’s also finds suitable adoptive homes and foster placements for children in care. Registered charity no. 216250.

Address

106 Gold Street
Wellingborough
NN8 4ES
View on Google Maps

Call

01933 274594

Opening hours

Monday – Saturday – 9:00 – 16:00 (closed for lunch 12:00-1:00)
Sunday – Closed

Wellie Wombles

December 14, 2021 Community Service

Wellie Wombles are a litter picking group that work in partnership with Wellingborough Eco Group. They started on Facebook by Freddie Harris in February 2021, as a Wellingborough and East Northamptonshire group of Northants Litter Wombles. Both groups have been set up to encourage people to litter pick.

Wellie Wombles are individual litter pickers who, like the TV Characters, go Wombling free tidying up after the everyday people. They do suggest that Wombles start near where you live but can litter pick whenever they want to, and pretty much wherever they want to. As a group they simply offer help, supplies and guidance, plus give litter pickers the chance to share photos with each other of what has been picked on the Wellie Wombles Facebook group.

Wellie Wombles regularly litter pick 100+ bags a month just in Wellingborough and have filled 60 bags so far this month already! Maybe you have seen a Wellie Womble or two tidying up your local area, or have seen one of those red bags at the side of the road? Wellie Wombles also join in the Wellingborough Eco Group ‘Two Hour Tidy Up’ every month, tidying up local parks and public spaces.

Here is Freddie talking about Wellie Wombles!

Freddie is also busy working behind the scenes and has had some great success stories, including engaging with local schools and young people on the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, by setting up local neighbourhood hubs where people can borrow our litter pickers and hoops; and with local business, to get them to take up litter picking. He is always engaging with supporters over to see if they would like to do some picking too.

To help you, they have teamed up with Glamis Hall every Tuesday afternoon for Tuesday Tidy Ups, with Wellingborough Library Monday to Saturday and with Wellingborough Norse Monday to Friday; to loan litter pickers, hi-vis and hoops, and to give away bags. Equipment and bags are to be collected from one of the above locations, equipment is to be returned on the same day; and bags left for Wellingborough Norse by a public highway or at Glamis Hall on Tuesdays for collection. To get bags collected, simply report them on their website. You can also purchase a variety of pickers and hoops from them at their Tuesday Tidy Ups.

Find out more about Wellie Wombles on their webpage or join the Wellie Wombles Facebook group.

Hemmingwell Community and Skills Centre

December 12, 2021 Community Service

Introducing a local community centre and charity that is working hard to achieve their goal of being a community centre that is run by the community for the community. Paula Elmore and Marion Lamont have recently taken over the management of the Hemmingwell Community and Skills Centre CIO with two general assistants. Paula and Marion are both trustees who give their time freely and are supported by their wonderful volunteers and other trustees, who all help to keep the centre open and running smoothly.

Kate and Paula tell us about the activities at the Hemmingwell Community and Skills Centre

The centre is recovering from a couple of difficult years (as many others are) and Paula and Marion are hoping to improve the centre, and attract more groups to help enhance peoples’ lives around the area. These groups could be older residents’ groups and coffee mornings, mother and toddler groups, home education groups and more, watch this space as they grow. These and many more exciting things are happening now:

  • Fit & Fed local children can come and have fun in the school holidays through exercise, with qualified instructors. They also do crafts and get hot meals for themselves and their families.
  • Nest Youth Club on Mondays 4 to 6pm
  • The Compound Our Trustee, Kam works his magic all over Northamptonshire! Based in the centre, he works educating and mentoring young people through exercise and music. He also has raised funds for calisthenic bars to be placed outside in Hemmingwell, where he can often be found training and talking to our young people.
  • Elmore Education has a learning room in the centre, where Paula teaches vulnerable young people who can’t be in school for any reason.
  • Bingo evenings on Wednesdays, run by the new Hemmingwell Residents’ Association.
  • Seventh Evangelist Church on Saturday mornings
  • Shudan Martial Arts run by Jeff Gonsalves are regular users of the centre for young leader and self defence classes
  • Arts and Culture with Made for Many for young people.
  • Employment Training with Goodwill Solutions CIC bring courses to the centre to help local residents build their working potential and enhance their lives.
  • Food Bank (sponsored by Goodwill Solutions CIC) on Tuesdays at 1.30pm to 3.30pm, with extra parcels available to help those in need throughout the week.
  • Police Local PCSOs have an office at the centre, helping with events such as ‘Safer Streets’ initiative.
  • NN8 Off the Streets have placed a bleed kit at the centre and are working with their trustee, Kam, in to schools to help educate our children in the fight against knife crime

The centre’s wonderful hall and separate meeting room are available to hire for community events, parties, functions and meetings, both during the week and at weekends. This is at a discounted rate for local residents. The centre also hosts parties for the community, including a Christmas party this Saturday that has completely sold out!

Open 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday, visit Hemmingwell Community and Skills Centre CIO at 119 Nest Farm Crescent, Hemmingwell NN8 4TU Wellingborough, there is car parking at the rear of the building, or call 01933 405595.

High Street Hub

December 11, 2021 Community News Service

After many years of planning, High Street United Reformed Church are embarking on their largest project since the current Church building was opened in 1875. The aim is to make the Church more welcoming and amenable to all the people of the town and beyond. The project received Planning Approval in April 2017 and is fund-raising to make the dream a reality. The Project, with estimated costs of £600,000 consists of four stages:

  1. New external ramp to the front of the Church to allow for an easier, more dignified and inclusive access to those with disabilities and for coffin bearers at funerals.
  2. New glazed door providing an elegant and secure enclosure to the external lobby.
  3. The foyer, under the balcony, will be enclosed by a glazed partition through which you can enter the worship area of the Church. The foyer, which will become the High Street HUB, will be a multi-functional area, separately heated and encasing a servery and a meeting room.
  4. The existing main worship area of the Church will be redecorated.

The most exciting change is to the foyer, creating The High Street HUB. They already hold Coffee mornings daily in the Church, which attract a number of regulars, some of whom are out of work and some are homeless and in need of a safe place for refreshment and a friendly chat, but this could be better.

Creating The HUB will enable the United Reformed Church to offer better services to the local community. With easily heated and adaptable spaces for use by the whole community that are easily accessible by all and right on the High Street!

The HUB will give the church the opportunity do what they currently do and more, with a purpose built servery, offering quality light refreshments; and a meeting room that’s able to seat 40 persons, for small gatherings, for those seeking counsel and for further outreach work.

Wellingborough Swap Shop

December 7, 2021 Community News Service

Wellingborough Swap Shop is a free and local exchange where members of the public can pass on things they no longer want, in exchange for something they need. You could describe it as a kind of cashless bring-and-buy sale. Participants do not need to bring anything in order to take away goods, and vice versa. Our ‘Swap Shop’ recognises that things no longer wanted by someone, might be another person’s treasure. By reusing things we cut down on the amount of waste that goes into landfill and reduce the amount of resources that we use in manufacturing of new products. And it saves you money!

Wellingborough Eco Group originally set up Wellingborough Swap Shop last year as a Facebook group (join in!) so items can be swapped or shared with others; and in February we started hosting Saturday Swap Shops at the Victoria Centre on Zoom with the One Wellingborough Plus project. In September we started hosting in person Wellingborough Swap Shops at Animals in Need’s Open day. This proved to be very popular, so we decided to have weekly Swap Shops in Glamis Hall’s Community Room during our Tuesday Tidy Ups with Wellie Wombles.

This Tuesday’s Swap Shop promises to be bigger and better than ever! With food surplus from Glamis Hall and Redeem Funds, plus produce from Wellingborough Eco Group’s Community Allotment there’s lots of stuff for all. In Glamis Hall’s Community Room from 2-6 it’s all for swaps or just take anything you want, it’s all free! Find out more here.

Scope

December 2, 2021 Business Charity Shop Community

The Scope Wellingborough shop sells a wide range of new and second goods including: clothes, shoes, homeware, accessories, furniture, CDs and DVDs, books, toys and much more. They offer discount prices, with tops for £1, bags and shoes for £2, dresses for £3 and jackets for £4.

They are urgently requesting donations of good quality clothing, bric-a-brac, electricals, toys and shoes and bags. Don’t throw your unwanted items, give them a new life by donating them to Scope, the disability equality charity in England and Wales. Every donation of a pre-loved item helps them to fund their vital advice and support services; and it stops usable items ending up in landfill:

  • Scope provides practical information and emotional support to disabled people when it’s most needed, through a telephone helpline and via an online community forum. They also provide a range of employment and child sleep services, community engagement programmes, partnerships and more.
  • Scope are campaigning to create a fairer society with their Everyday Equality strategy. For the last 5 years they have campaigned for social change, on issues about fairness, justice and rights at home, at school, at work and in our communities; so that the 14 million disabled people in the UK have equal opportunities.
  • Donating items to charity shops like Scope for re-use, diverts millions of usable items from landfill and into low-income households, tackling poverty, saving hundreds of thousands of tonnes of CO2, and supporting a vast, growing network of people through volunteering, employment and training opportunities.

There are no limits on number of bags you can donate and you don’t need to make an appointment at the Wellingborough Shop. Just drop off at your convenience to 26/27 Silver Street, Wellingborough, NN8 1AY. They are open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm and closed on Sunday. Call 01933 227001 or visit https://www.scope.org.uk/ for more info.