A STALYBRIDGE community now has a place where it can be supported following the reopening of a hub after five years.
For months, the property on Crowhill, at Carrbrook’s Crowswood Estate, stood empty.
But after spotting its potential and what could be achieved with it, Jigsaw Community Hub Crowswood is now back open, hosting sessions to help men and women.
It will also host a Hallowe’en event on Wednesday, October 28 and a pre-school magic and puppet event on the same day is bookable.
There are already plans to expand its reach, with a fruit and veg project being set up in the coming weeks.
Jo Gray, who lives nearby, is operating many of the sessions after working with Jigsaw’s neighbourhood engagement officer Vikki Fitzpatrick, with former Councillor Tafheen Sharif attending and supporting the groups..
And even though it has not been back open for long, its impact is already noticeable.
She said: “There’s been nothing for a long time and it’s so needed.
“So many people have been so intrigued with what’s happening. Things are starting to grow, with more and more going on.
“It’s not going to be like a drop-in centre – it’s more it’s for the community. We want it to be a safe space, but it’ll grow.
“However, the feedback has already been amazing. Vikki and I knew we wanted it to feel homely, like sitting in your living room, as when you’re in that kind of space, you’re more relaxed and comfortable.
“We’ve had ladies who live in Carrbrook come that I’d never spoken to before. It just builds that real sense of community and support that we all need.
“Often now people don’t even know the name of something, or someone will move in and they don’t speak to anyone.
“I find that quite sad because we need that community feel, we need that feeling of, ‘Let’s all pull together. Let’s make it a better place for our children, for our future generations and for ourselves.’
“And with a lot of people on the estate, it’s not that they don’t want to change, it’s that they don’t know how.
“They don’t have that path, they don’t have that avenue and if you open up spaces like this, where you’ve got people yeah that have been through their own stuff, they can react better.
“The hub was closed and I said to one of my volunteers, ‘We need to find a new venue.’ Strangely Vikki got in touch thar same week.
“I’d worked with her before and she said, ‘I’m going to be running a hub. Do you want to come and do some workshops?’
“I said, ‘Definitely, where is it?’ She said Crowswood and I said, ‘Are you joking? I literally live on that estate.’
“And it’s not just for the people on this estate. Of course, that’s where we’re focusing but if somebody needs the support, they’re very welcome to come as well.”
Part of the impact of the hub is being seen through Sam’s Man Hub, a men’s peer support group that offers hot food, a safe space and conversation.
On Thursdays from 6pm until 8pm, men have the chance to get together and speak about their problems, with more on the hub’s doorstep doing so.
Jo, who is fully qualified and operates them alongside Sam, added: “Sam has been through what he’s been through, and while I’ve got my qualifications that lived experience is really important because it’s people those in the area can level with.
“When they recognise you as someone local or not they feel like they’re talking to someone that’s maybe a little bit further down the line, it gives them the hope that they need to be able to think maybe change too.
“And for a lot of men particularly, mental health has always been a very taboo subject, but I’ve seen how much more men feel able to share a little bit and feel able to admit that it’s not easy life isn’t easy.
“In past generations, it was always taboo – you’ve just got to get on with it and that’s been the kind of ethos but then suicide rates increase. It’s the same with women.
“It’s seen generally that women have a lot of support, but it’s not always as easy to actually share the tough stuff.
“There are a lot of women who go through domestic violence and don’t tell anyone and spaces like this – I know through my experience that I’ve helped multiple women who have been in those situations – coming to the group or a workshop like mine and doing that little bit of exploration into themselves has given them the courage or the realization that they’re not happy where they are.
“Having these sessions at the hub opens up the doorways to not just what we’re doing but signposting to the other services that are needed.
“Everybody needs it’s a doorway and walking in to see a normal person – yes, I’ve got all my safeguarding, but it feels very in the background to people and I’m not stood here with a badge saying I’m from Tameside Council.
“I’m a person and I’m approachable and I try to keep as much in the background as I can for people because then you’re on their level and you find that people open up to you and then when they can resonate with your story.
“I’m very open about my journey – domestic violence, sexual assault and I’ve been stalked and harassed – and when you start to open up to someone a little bit about your journey, then you’re on their level, you’re not a professional.”
Jo, who runs the Empowered to Thrive CIC as well as several other businesses in that sector, got stuck in to make the hub look its best, and homely.
Now the doors are open and workshops operating, with as many as 16 people attending any one session, thoughts are turning to what else could be done in the future.
“Obviously it was not looking like it does now when we first came in,” Jo recalled tom The Correspondent.
“We wanted it to feel like home, so we got lights which are very ambient and we have the candles on, so when we do evening events it feels like a safe place.”
Currently, some sessions require a fee, while Sam’s Man Hub is fee to attend.
The children’s puppet show takes place from 11am until 11.45am and the Hallowe’en fun session takes place from 2pm until 4pm, both on Wednesday, October 28.
To book, or for further information about the hub, you can email vikki.fitzpatrick@jigsawhomes.org.uk.