A strong partnership between Thrive and the Villages Together project has transformed Bitham Walk Hall from an unused space to a vibrant community hub supporting residents from Bitham and the surrounding area.
The journey began in Autumn 2022, when rising energy prices left many local people struggling to stay warm. In response, Thrive launched Warm Woolly Wednesdays – a welcoming space where anyone could drop in, connect with others and feel supported during a challenging time. Bitham Walk Hall was chosen for its central position, generous capacity, and fully functioning kitchen, making it an ideal place to bring the community together.
As more residents began attending, it became clear that the hall had the potential to offer even more. A Talking Café was launched, providing an easy, friendly way for people to meet our Village Agent, Daniel Bell, gain advice on anything they are concerned with, and enjoy conversation. The popularity of these sessions proved how the community valued having an inclusive, welcoming space where everyone felt comfortable and able to seek support.
With this growing demand, Thrive and Villages Together opened discussions with Homes in Somerset and Somerset County Council about expanding access to the hall beyond Wednesdays. At the same time, a series of seasonal family events, spring fetes, summer fairs, Halloween activities, and Christmas grottos helped strengthen the community connection and showed the hall’s value as a gathering place for all ages.
These collaborative efforts paid off. Bitham Walk Hall is now recognised as a community hub, offering a wide range of services, made possible through partnership work and the determination of our Village Agent.
To support the continued growth of the Community Hub, they now have a Spoke Project Worker overseeing the day-to-day activities and ongoing development.
What began as a warm space in a time of crisis has grown into a hub where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together, access support, learn new skills, and feel part of a community. The project reflects a shared commitment to creating welcoming spaces where everyone can connect and thrive.
One attendee said, “ The Hub saved my life. I live alone, and I didn’t have any friends. So, I started coming down here.”
Bitham Walk Hub offers a wide range of support, activities and community groups. The hub hosts weekly sessions, including a parents’ support group run by In Charley’s Memory, a men’s mental health group, digital inclusion support from Spark-trained IT Champions, and a popular coffee morning and lunch club. Regular groups also include embroidery, board games and a fortnightly Dementia Support Café run with Polden Practice. Monthly services range from Menopause Support, Age UK clinics, IT Champions support with the NHS App, Homes in Somerset one-to-one clinics, Somerset Housing Association Limited (SHAL) Housing sessions, and a PCSO drop-in, along with specialist utility support from Burnham & Weston Energy and Wessex Water, and debt advice from Navigate. The hub also offers cooking and skills courses with Lesley Gates, plus a support group for parents of neurodiverse children.
Together, these activities create a thriving, inclusive environment where people can access support, learn new skills, and connect with others in their community.