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People and organisations from across the Diocese attended the official launch of the Fitzherbert Community Hub at St John the Baptist Church, East Brighton Parish, last Thursday evening. Bishop Richard led attendees in prayer during the official blessing of the building, with the celebration - which marked the end of months of building work - showcasing the fantastic new community space which aims to reduce food poverty and isolation.

The completed Hub offers an innovative and inspiring model of community integration underpinned by four key partners: St John the Baptist Church, The Real Junk Food Project, Voices in Exile and The Brighton Table Tennis Club. Construction work on the building involved converting the existing parish hall and courtyard at St John the Baptist into a Community Hub and City Garden with a commercial standard teaching kitchen, dining area, purpose-built food bank facilities and additional meeting spaces designed to promote a range of activities and instil a sense of belonging to people and groups across the local area.

'The Fitz' as many local people fondly refer to it, is place where everyone is welcome, and where everyone can be nourished by food, friendship and fun. It aims to be a place of hope, offering a welcoming space where people can come together to share a meal, a place where conversations and connections are made easily, and where people feel safe to develop and showcase their strengths. Fr Kieron O'Brien, Parish Priest of East Brighton parish said:

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“Although the idea for the Fitzherbert Community Hub was conceived before the [Covid-19] pandemic, these recent months have brought the need for such a place into sharp focus and our determination to meet the need has become more ambitious with a groundswell of enthusiasm among parishioners. As Parish Priest, I am delighted we have found this practical way of serving the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the wider community.”

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‍The Real Junk Food Project's 'Pay as you Feel' Community Cafe will soon be open 5 days a week and is currently serving delicious food (and coffee) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11am to 3pm, with the food bank open Mondays 11am to 12pm. To discover the latest news and upcoming events visit the Fitzherbert website here. To see the Hub in operation during a recent Community Day click on the short film below.

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