What’s all the Hubbub? Have you heard? There is a lot going on at New Galloway Town Hall lately...
Hubbub at the Town Hub
As well as the popular LING Lunches on Tuesdays, Hubbub started last September and is open every Thursday from 11am to 2pm. Funded by Dumfries & Galloway Council, Hubbub aims to help provide a warm, accessible and welcoming space for the community. Transport is available to support accessibility. It’s all free of charge, although any donations are welcome, of course, and help us to spin out the funding for longer.
So far, the Hubbub has been a great success. There is a regular crowd every Thursday with newcomers at every session. Sharing memories, pumpkin carving, jam making as well as crafting Christmas decorations and advent calendars were amongst the weekly activities. Some people like to join in; others just enjoy watching. And there’s always lots of chat and banter.
The feedback we get is really positive - some find it quite an important lifeline - and it’s lovely to see so much mutual support going on amidst all the fun and laughter.
One of our favourite bits of feedback came from our oldest regular attendee. On being asked how he was finding it, he said, with straight face, "It's been terrible. I'll not be back." It brought the house down! People visibly transform as they become more relaxed with laughter and smiles, lots of mutual teasing and sharing of challenges and experiences.
Alongside Thursday Hubbub, we’re introducing Hubbub Exchange on Mondays from 3-6pm, starting 5 February. We hope this may appeal to some as an after-school slot or towards the end of a working day – and some of our regulars may also like to come twice in the week. It will offer a chance to bring and share ideas and skills, learn stuff together, recommend a book, swap a plant - or just to bring yourself and relax. A warm meal will be available at tea time, to eat in or take away. Again no charge, but donations welcome.
Any suggestions, comments or offers of help will be very welcome. We want the newly refurbished Town Hall to feel owned, as it is, by the community and to be as open and accessible as possible - a place for the whole family across the generations. And we want it to play its part in paving the way for a more resilient and sustainable community in challenging times. To this end, we are forging links with the Galloway Food Hub and have just succeeded in gaining a Biosphere grant to provide a skill sharing event on Saturday 24 February -see poster.
Bianca Leder, LING’s Hub Host