Parkside Hub update – expanding our reach
Over the years, the Parkside Community Hub in Chelmsford has been a valued space for the local community - a place where people could connect, access support, and take part in activities.
At the same time, we’ve been listening closely to your feedback. Many of you have told us that you’d like to see more happening closer to home - whether that’s activities on your estate, informal drop-ins, local events, or simply seeing more of our team out and about in different parts of Essex.
What’s changing
The Hub building is currently leased from the NHS, and the lease is due to expire. To expand our reach, we’ve decided not to renew it, so we’ll no longer operate from the Hub. While we understand this will be a big change for regular visitors, it’s part of a shift to bring our services directly to more people and to serve more neighbourhoods.
We’ll use funding from the Hub to introduce a mobile exhibition unit, enabling us to reach more people across a wider area. This means we can bring support, information, and activities to different communities, rather than expecting you to travel to one central location.
This approach will help us better support:
- People who may find it difficult to travel
- Those who are feeling isolated
- Customers living in rural areas
- Anyone who prefers to connect within their local community
More local spaces to connect
As well as being more mobile, we’ll also be working from community-owned and managed buildings across our area. This will create more opportunities for you to:
- Drop in locally
- Take part in activities
- Connect with our team and other services
Our aim is to make our support more accessible, visible, and rooted in the communities we serve.
Supporting our regular Hub users
We know the Hub has been especially important for those who have regularly visited for social connection and support. We want to reassure you that we’re here to help during this transition.
We’re working closely with local organisations to make sure there are places to go and people to connect with. For example, nearby services such as s St. Andrew's Church and North Avenue Christian Centre already offer warm spaces, social groups, and food support, and we’ll help you link in with these and other local opportunities.
The Hub will close on 30 September 2026. For more information or to chat about the changes with our team, drop into the Hub (CM1 2DX), or call us on 0300 555 0500.