AN award winning community hub which has been established in the Dales for the past decade finds itself facing a funding criss.

Grassington Hub, run by more than 80 volunteers, will run out of funds this August and is asking locals to ‘chip in’ to a monthly scheme to help it keep its head above water.

The hub has been a brilliant success story, going from strength to strength over the years it has existed.

It serves many uses in the community of Upper Wharfedale: a community-run library with a well-used children’s section and a home delivery service, a box office for all local events and an information centre.

It runs the community cinema, the lunch club, the tea clubs, community transport, the village Forum, the Helping Hands patient transport service and the village website. It provides office services, passport photographs, and publicity for local events.

“Volunteers help by manning the hub, driving the minibus, or helping at the lunch club. The venue is also developing a “man’s shed” and a telephone befriending service and acts as a co-ordinator between other village organisations,” said member Dr Andrew Jackson.

“It has become a beacon of excellence throughout the county, and is a much valued community asset.

“Despite this, it can’t make ends meet. There has been a wonderful response to our appeal for local contributions, but it still faces a £15,000 annual deficit.” Grant funding is ever harder to obtain, so the hub is appealing to local residents to join the “GH&L 500” scheme.

It is asking 500 local people to chip in £2.50 or more each month, or to consider leaving a legacy to the hub.

The community initiative has recently been the recipient of two royal awards in the form of the Duke of York’s Community Initiative awards.

Prince Andrew met members of the hub at a ceremony at Catterick Garrison recently which was to honour those organisations throughout the whole of Yorkshire which have made outstanding contributions to their communities.

The Prince spoke passionately of the massive amount of dedicated work that is done by volunteers to improve their community in so many different ways.

He was so struck by this that, ten years ago, he set up the award to recognise the work of so many unsung heroes.

The team from the Hub also had an unexpected surprise when the Hub’s chairman, Barrie Doyle, was selected from the whole of Yorkshire to receive the Duke’s Community Leader Award, one of only three to be bestowed.

Dr Andrew Jackson accepted the award on Mr Doyle’s behalf, and said: “The Hub has gone from strength to strength, and stands out as a brilliant example of what a community can achieve.

“But it doesn’t happen without a great deal of dedication, creativity and work from volunteers, staff and trustees.

“Barrie richly deserves this honour, which demonstrates his ‘Be nice to each other, and have fun’ philosophy is one that a lot of other organisations might adopt”

Grassington Hub is rather a special place thanks to over 80 keen volunteers who manage an ever-expanding range of services for their Upper Wharfedale community. It now stands out as a shining example of what a rural community can do to help itself.

Angie Dalton, the hub’s full-time manager says it’s a friendly, welcoming place, based around a library which has seen over 60 per cent increase in usage since it was handed over to the community by North Yorkshire County Council two years ago.

She said: “It’s a formidable list and I don’t think that even locals know the extent of everything we do.

“We also run fundraising events, and network with other organisations so we’re kept very busy. There are more initiatives in the pipeline too.”

Here is a list of what the hub offers:

Information and advice for residents and tourists, open six days a week.

Office services such as photocopying, passport photos and parking permits.

Listings and co ordination for local groups, societies and organisations.

Village map and walking routes for visitors.

Box office and publicity for local events and a community website with comprehensive ‘What’s On’ calendar.

Regular community transport.

Monthly community cinema.

Co ordination of “Helping Hands”.

Monthly senior’s lunch club and tea parties

A ‘Men’s Shed’ group.

Support for Grassington “Village Forum”.

Voluntary placements for DofE and work experience students.

A shop window for local artists and authors.

A jigsaw swap scheme and box office space for Grassington Festival

Internet access and free wi-fi.

Co ordination of local litter picking activity.

Monthly storytelling for pre school children.

Fortnightly Home Library delivery service for housebound users.

A weekly ‘Knit and Natter’ social group.

Anyone able to offer help and ‘chip in’ should ring the hub on 01756 752222 or email enquiries@grassingtonhub.com