Our History
In October 2013 Age UK and University of the Third Age approached 291 Community Association Ltd to replace THE PUBLIC as a third partner in a Lottery Funded project. This was because the local authority had taken the decision to close THE PUBLIC and change it into an Art College. It was proposed that the premises of Wesley Church be used as the venue for the project.
The University of the Third Age began to use Wesley’s premises but eventually withdrew from the project and left Age UK and 291 Community Association Ltd to carry on.
The Age UK application negotiations with the Lottery continued until October 2015 when the 3-year project began.
The aim of the Creative Hub Project was to provide a safe and centrally-located space, run by older people, for a range of creative and IT activities, together with an information and advice ‘drop-in’ service, to help reduce feelings of isolation and increase skills and well-being.
This project was run by Age UK Sandwell until September 2018 when Age UK Sandwell closed.
At this point 291 Community Association Ltd took over the responsibility for running the Hub from October 2018 and it became the 291 Creative Hub. With funding from the Lottery Awards for All and other small grants the Hub for older people has continued with the activities of Friendship Group; Walking Football; Craft & Chat; Craft Group; Gentle exercise; Art; and Digital Café; with twice weekly benefit advice for members of the public provided by Birmingham Age UK who took over the role for Sandwell.
A website was set up, Facebook and twitter accounts were also opened to get our services better known!
291 Community Association applied to the Charity Commission to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and this was approved in September 2019. The limited company was wound up at the end of 2019 and monies transferred to the 291 Community Association CIO.
In March 2020 the Covid pandemic stopped all activities and so we had to use other means to ensure that our members were not feeling isolated and lonely.
We have kept in contact with our members via telephone, WhatsApp groups, Facebook, twitter, we have produced issues of a magazine and we have, with the aid of emergency Covid funding, purchased digital tablets to enable zoom meetings to take place.
In April 2021 the Lottery Reaching Communities Fund approved a grant applied for by 291 Community association CIO to support the 291 Creative Hub for 3 years.
Why not come and join us?!!
291communityassociationcio.co.uk 