New community space rapidly taking shape in Topsham

A new community space that will benefit thousands of people is rapidly taking shape in Topsham.

Work on the Estuary Community Hub started in May and is scheduled to be completed and ready to open next summer.

A Grass Roots grant – money raised through local developments like IKEA – is helping towards the construction and fitting out of a new two-storey contemporary building on the site of the old Topsham Library. The Hub will have 18 fully accessible rooms and a community garden.

“Once complete, we will have a facility to be proud of,” said Rachel Gilpin, of the Estuary League of Friends, “This will be somewhere that people from Topsham and the surrounding areas can come together to develop, deliver and benefit from local services, groups and activities that strengthen our community.”

Estuary has been improving the quality of life for those in need of care, comfort or support since 1987. The community-led charity work with elderly, frail, isolated and disabled people. The charity also provides IT training and early learning.

Years of fundraising have enabled Estuary to get to where they are today. Nearly £2million was raised from local donors as well as a £778,100 grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

Topsham Library has temporarily relocated to new premises but once the Hub is open it will move back alongside a new café, exercise room, treatment rooms, wet rooms, a laundry, meeting rooms and even a cash machine!