An enjoyable evening

Last Thursday was the Hub Stourbridge Ambassadors’ Reception, which was the evening where we presented the project to our ambassadors and started to exchange thoughts and ideas on how to build the community of members.

We also gave some of these cards to our ambassadors to pass on to others and help spread the word. We look forward to updating you further on their and our progress in the coming months.

Here are some of the ambassadors at the end of the event, along with the core team:

(click on photo to enlarge)

UnLtd Sport Relief Programme

Louise Cannon recently met with us to talk about the UnLtd Sports Relief Awards. The programme funds projects that aim to tackle social exclusion or community conflict issues through sport or recreational activities. With scope to apply for further awards, the programme offers an opportunity for young people to develop entrepreneurial skills in order to sustain, develop and grow their projects.

There are 3 levels of awards up to £10,000 and more information can be found at www.unltdsportrelief.com.

The awards programme is national and therefore anyone aged between 11-21 across the UK  can apply.

Below is a link to open a poster on the Do It awards, for more information on the other two awards please visit the website mentioned above.

Do_It_Awards

Hub News – Winter ‘10

Welcome to our first newsletter!

Research and planning

In spring ‘09 we visited the Hubs in Bristol, Islington and Kings Cross to learn more about how they were set up. We also connected with the Moseley Exchange and Custard Factory in Birmingham to get a sense of local co-working spaces.

The Hub Network

In September, Jonathan Robinson, founder of the Hub network (www.the-hub.net), came on a flying visit bringing us some fresh energy and focus.

Looking for a space

As of October, we began viewing buildings in and around the town centre and found several interesting possibilities.

Growing support

November saw over 20 people agree to be Hub Stourbridge Ambassadors and to help us get the word out to potential members.

Funding award

Later in the month it was announced that we had been granted a Level 1 funding award from UnLtd. This is enabling us to dive wholeheartedly into our membership building.

Looking forward

During the next few months we will be setting up as a Community Interest Company and engaging the many people who have offered their time to help set up the Hub. We will run our first Ambassadors’ Reception as well as further events which are in the pipeline.

Thank you

We have had a lot of advice and help in the past year including from Caroline Webb and Becky Pickin (Dudley CSV), Bob Howard (Black Country Chamber of Commerce), Tony Clabby and Sharmilla Nanra (UnLtd), Moraan Gilaad (Hub Rotterdam) Tremaine Herbert (Community Renewal DMBC), Harry Scriven, and of course Jonathan Robinson.

Thank you for your continued interest in the development of the Hub Stourbridge.

We hope you enjoyed reading & wish you all the best for 2010.

You?

Do you like what you’ve read so far?

Would you like to use the Hub when it is up and running?

If so, let us know by answering these three questions.

Ways you can get involved before the doors open

• Become an ambassador
• Volunteer your expertise or time and join our founding community
• Suggest that your organisation might become a partner, eligible for discounted membership bundles.

For more information please get in touch via the contact page.

UnLtd award

We are delighted to announce that we have been granted an award by the UnLtd Millenium Awards Scheme to support The Hub Stourbridge in developing its membership and build a founding community.

Amongst other things, this will enable us to run several events in the New Year. The first one will be an Ambassadors’ Reception in January for the 20+ people from business, local authority and community groups who have already committed to helping spread the word about the Hub through their extended networks.

If you are linked into business or community networks and are also interested in becoming an ambassador do get in touch.

Where will it be?

There are currently several interesting buildings available in Stourbridge, and our search for a location is helping us to get a better sense of what the ingredients of the right place might be.

What we are looking for is an open plan space preferably on street-level, with room for a coffee corner, separate meeting and studio areas.

A place easy for people to walk or cycle to if they live in Stourbridge, and close to public transport.

Our dream location would have plenty of natural light and room for the imagination to transform it into a place that people simply like to be in.

Where would you like The Hub Stourbridge to be? Do send us your ideas.

Who will be there?

Freelancers – Small businesses – Community organisations  Start-ups – Educational, Creative &  Environmental sectors

Are you interested in being a member who can use the space and facilities?

Perhaps you would like to be a partner organisation with group membership for your staff or clients?

Or maybe you would simply like to stay updated.

Whatever your reasons, we will be pleased to hear from you:

hubstourbridge@googlemail.com / 07530 310 553

What will it look like?

What the Hub Stourbridge looks like, will be something of a secret until the launch…

Whilst the interior will have some  eco-features and promote sustainability, it will also draw on the skills of local creative designers in keeping with the style of other Hub spaces around the world.

Visit these links to go on panoramic tours of two established Hubs in the UK:

Kings Cross (ground floor) Bristol (outside & inside)

How will it work?

Just as with other Hubs in places such as Islington, Bristol, Rotterdam and Madrid, you will be able to choose from a list of flexible tariffs.

If one month you want to spend just 5 hours using the Hub Stourbridge then you will pay the lowest membership price. However, the next month you might like to base your small business there and have unlimited access.

The Hub Stourbridge will also host evening events open to the public as well as walk-in ‘coffee & cake’ mornings for people who are curious to find out more.

If you’d like to see what people get up to in other Hubs around the world then you can visit: www.the-hub.net and have a browse.

To find out more or to get involved please email us: hubstourbridge@googlemail.com

Hub faces

Photos of people involved in setting up the Hub Stourbridge