Staff at a "vital" community hub in Townhill Park say they want to remain open as work begins on regeneration in the area.

A former housing office on Meggeson Avenue, The Edge Hub was opened in January 2024 by a group of volunteers, spearheaded by Ruth Hills, who works for Church Army and the Church of Ascension as a community outreach worker.

The aim of the hub is to support Townhill Park residents, offering social interaction, breakfast clubs, and quiz nights – as well as a play group for parents and their young children in mornings and afternoons.

Reliant on donations, the hub faces an uncertain future with demolition work now underway in the area as part of the council’s regeneration project, which is set to provide new and improved housing to the area, after plans were first announced in 2011.

Speaking to the Echo, Ruth said: “We’ve got this building until it gets knocked down.

“We’re really hoping that when the council complete the re-build, they can make space for a place like this.

“It would be brilliant because I think the community really needs it.”

From left to right: Ruth Hills, Cheryl Whant, Sandra Philip, Sammie Heath, Emily Marshall (Image: Matt Davey) READ MORE: Flats knocked down as Townhill Park gets underway

The 63-year-old added: “We’ve had about 2,700 people through the door since January, so I think it shows there’s a need and that the work we do is vital.”

Gemma Elliot, 40, is a childminder who lives in Woodmill. She told the Echo without the hub; she’d have nowhere else to go.

She said: “I’ve been coming here since it opened and think it’s such a friendly environment.

“I live in Woodmill and don’t drive, so this is the nearest play group to go to.

“I normally have three children, so pushing the buggy with three children would be too much.

“It’s been great here, you make new friends, and the children get to do something different each time, and you’re able to pay what you want for tea from the café, so it really goes a long way to supporting people.”

With the hub operating on an adhoc basis, Ruth dreams that one-day it can function on a full-time basis.

She said: “You can see on a daily basis the impact the hub has; it’s been an uncertain time with people moving away from their homes and we’ve been able to add a bit of stability to people’s routines – I’d like to think we’re known and trusted faces in the community.”