Berkhamsted Together gets busy

Berkhamsted Together volunteers

Following the closure of the community hub Open Door last year, a new organisation called Berkhamsted Together formed, and its volunteers have been busy.

As we reported in the winter, the Warm Welcome Café, 137-139 High Street, is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (11am-2.30pm). The café, which had a planned reopening on 10 February after refurbishment, will be a meeting place for the Swan Youth Project.

The Community Fridge, aimed at preventing food waste, has reopened and takes place at Northbridge Social Centre on Tuesdays from 2-3.30pm.

The Food Hub Berko has been set up by Amanda Cooper and a volunteer group, co-ordinating a network of emergency food pantries across the community 24/7.

The Memory Café, which provides essential support for families dealing with dementia, Alzheimer’s and other memory issues, is now meeting at Sacred Heart RC Church on Friday mornings from 10.30am to noon.

The Repair Café has found a new home at Northchurch Social Centre, rebranded as Berko Repair Café, and is working closely with Eco Berko. It opens on the first Saturday of each month from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

Open Door’s Community Garden closed last autumn, but volunteers have replanted it at Berkhamsted Sports Centre Community Garden, Rectory Lane Cemetery, Northchurch Social Centre, Sunnyside Rural Trust and Victoria School.

Plans are also being finalised with Sunnyside Rural Trust to build another community garden in Northchurch. The garden team is also playing a lead role in helping the town take part for the first time in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom competition.

Berkhamsted book groups are now based at Berkhamsted Library, and the Monday crafting group has moved to Waitrose Café/Northchurch Social Centre.

More plans are in the pipeline, including finding a more permanent home for Berkhamsted Together, introducing board games sessions, a men’s group session, IT skills workshops, crafting activities and more at the Tuesday Cafe; and supporting the befriending work of Age UK (Herts).

A website is in the works, but until then, look on Facebook and Instagram for updates – and if you would like to join the group, email Iain Manson, chair of trustees at iainmanson@hotmail.com or call 07917 327384.