Harwich and Dovercourt Wellbeing Lounge in Esplanade Hall will receive £100,000 in increased funding from Conservative led Essex County Council’s Levelling up fund, supporting the council’s countywide Everyone’s Essex strategy.
The new funding was announced last week at Essex County Council’s 'Levelling Up Harwich' launch event at Harwich International Port.
The wellbeing lounge has become a valued resource since it was set up by local churches in November 2021, providing a shared space for local people who were particularly isolated or vulnerable. The new funding will secure the rental space for three years, allow for improvements to enhance access and use of the space and increase opening hours from just four hours, one day a week, to daily opening Monday to Friday.
Cllr Louise McKinlay, Deputy Leader of Essex County Council and Cabinet Member for Community, Equality, Partnership and Performance, said: “Building strong communities and encouraging pride of place are central to achieving our aims for levelling up the County. The Harwich and Dovercourt community Hub meets so many of our target objectives, working hard to improve the health and wellbeing of the local community, with physical activities available alongside mental health support.
“This new funding will help secure and improve that support even further so it can continue to attract more local families to the hub, from parents with babies to residents in their 90s.”
The popular Harwich and Dovercourt Community Hub focuses on encouraging health and wellbeing, with shared activities, a reading corner, crafting/hobby area and a place where local people can come together and have light refreshments. It has an extended outside space, where people can sit and either just meet and socialise or get involved in outdoor games, such as skittles.
