Fernhurst Centre celebrates relaunch and renames The Hub

It was established in 2003, is well known for its IT tuition and offers classes on a wide range of subjects from foreign languages to floristry. Its café reopened in July 2020 with social distancing.

Antonia Plant, chair of Trustees, said: “The Fernhurst Hub has grown into an amazing resource which is enjoyed and relied on by huge numbers of people and this is in large part due to the efforts of Pauline Colcutt as voluntary centre manager for nearly 18 years and her amazing team of volunteers.”

The Hub received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, regarded as the MBE of the charitable sector, in June 2020 and the presentation of the award, delayed by Covid constraints, will be undertaken by the Lord-Lieutenant for West Sussex, Susan Pyper, at the Fernhurst Revels on August 30.

For the open day residents were invited to celebrate the occasion, with the added attraction of free Dylan’s ice creams for children and a glass of fizz for the adults. With three well distanced refreshment tents and information stations, despite Covid restrictions plenty of supporters were able to attend and enjoy the bright sunshine.

Jennifer Thornton, head teacher at Fernhurst Primary school, as the guest of honour, cut the ribbon to declare the re-launched Fernhurst Hub open for business.

While some courses had to be postponed, the language classes have been very popular and moved online during the pandemic.

Recently appointed centre manager, Liz Rawlings said: “Many people enjoyed the laughter and sociability as well as a sense of routine that the Zoom style language classes provided during long weeks of lockdown. Now that we offer French, Italian and Spanish at several levels of proficiency, with German to be added in September and with a mixture of face to face and on-line teaching, we are certainly keeping some linguistic and cultural aspects of Europe alive in West Sussex, Brexit notwithstanding.”

For more information on the Hub’s courses and events and to volunteer visit, fernhurstcentre.org.uk