Fife community hub secures new home

The North East Fife Communuty Hub has been awarded a grant from the Scottish Land Fund which will allow it to purchase the St David’s Centre in St Andrews from Fife Council through a Community Asset Transfer.

Additional funds will be used to carry out essential refurbishment.

The building will need some immediate repairs to the roof, lift and toilet facilities, while various issues will need to be addressed so the building complies with fire regulations.

A spokesperson for the hub said the team were “thrilled” at the announcement.

They added: “We are delighted that in early 2021 we will be able to take the next step in the hubs journey and open the doors of St David’s.”

The hub hosts a range of services, which will now be available from its new St Andrews base.

The foodbank, Storehouse, operated by the Vineyard Church, will have a permanent home for organisation, storage, display and distribution, alongside the ‘Clothesline’ clothes bank.

The cafe, which has been at the centre of the hub, will be able to open again – although the context depends on the current restrictions.

The existing Fife Council adult day-care facility, which was in danger of closing a few years ago, will be retained in its familiar surroundings.

Support networks based at the hub will also be able to reopen.

Unused space at the hub will also be available to rent on short term or long term basis.

There will be an ongoing programme of upgrading as further funds are secured, including installing a catering kitchen for the cafe, a teaching kitchen, short-term office and consulting rooms for hire.

As Covid-19 restrictions are eased the hub will be able to move towards putting all of its plans into action, so the space can be used to ensure the hub can support the community and is financially self-sufficient and sustainable.

While waiting for this new project the hub continues to work in the community, running Clothesline, helping with individuals shopping, picking up prescriptions, dropping off food parcels and phoning isolated individuals.

The hub is “delighted” to have teamed up with Students4Life, which has collected more than 30 gift bags full of festive cheer that the team can deliver to the isolated within St Andrews.