A thriving community project is flourishing in the centre of Lymington – thanks to the dedicated work of a group of volunteers.
The Open Door Project at the Lymington United Reformed Church is all set this summer to offer a warm welcome to the young, elderly, people with disabilities and carers – anyone, in fact, who would benefit from the relaxed and supportive meeting place.
The new Open Door Café at the URC, in High Street, Lymington, is now running every Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, from 10am to 12 noon. Everybody is welcome to drop in for reasonably-priced tea, coffee and cakes, which supports the Open Door Project and its outreach programme, together with the New Forest Basics Bank.
The new church hall is the centrepiece of the Open Door Project and has cost £1.1 million and 10 years of planning and fundraising to bring to fruition.
The project aims to reach out to all members of the local community with the vision: "To provide a safe physical, spiritual and emotionally supportive environment where people with a wide range of needs can find befriending support and be signposted to formal support services and organisations."
A family service this month will set the ball rolling as the church's doors are opened to provide a modern meeting place offering various activities on a regular basis for local groups and individuals.
Among the services planned are regular drop-in sessions offering a relaxed and safe focal point for the youth, families/parents plus services for senior citizens giving an inclusive meeting place for all. A trained Samaritans team will be on hand to give a confidential listening ear to anyone who needs support, starting on July 21 from 10am to 12 noon. The Carers' Café is now open every third Tuesday of the month, from 10am to 12noon.
The project also hopes eventually to offer children's clubs and after-school facilities for youngsters.
Further fund-raising is now needed for future projects and a number of events are planned, including Chloe Akram in concert on July 27 at 7pm; a summer barbecue on June 27 and regular Saturday morning tabletop sales on the URC forecourt start this Saturday, June 20, until September 5, are planned.
Running alongside the Open Door Project, and in association with the enormous support of Churches Together Lymington and District (CTLD wwwcthi.org.uk) and volunteers, is the successful New Forest Basics Bank which provides individuals and families in need with basic food and hygiene items.
Basics Bank supports those people who have been referred from registered bodies, such as the health service, social services, or women's refuge, with free emergency food and essential items, like shampoo and toothpaste. Basics Bank is staffed entirely by volunteers. It relies solely on donations and many items are donated by local churches, as well as receiving financial support from local organisations. The current opening times at the temporary centre are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10am to midday.
However, a Building Fund Appeal was launched in 2008 to raise at least £25,000 for a new storage and distribution centre to be located at Lymington URC. The initial design work has been done by the Lymington URC architects and planning approval has been granted by NFDC. Fundraising for the new building is progressing steadily.
New Forest District Council has given support to both projects. Housing Portfolio Holder Cllr Jill Cleary said: "It is wonderful to see the doors to the new hall open for business – it promises to be a thriving hub of the community. I hope everybody will continue to support what has been a great achievement as there is a real need for the facilities that are being offered through the Open Door Project.
"The Basics Bank is carrying out vital community work by making sure those who are most in need have the basic essentials to survive. It is important that we support the Building Fund Appeal with further donations to ensure the future success of this valuable service."
When the new Basics Bank distribution centre is built and reopens back at the Lymington URC , it will be open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 12 noon, to accommodate the increased need for this service in the local community and the New Forest area.
Basics Bank distributes to areas right across the district from Fawley to Highcliffe up to Ringwood and Fordingbridge. If you would like to make a donation or volunteer your time, contact Basics Bank by telephone on their current number: 01590 610008.
The Open Door Project has been supported by many local organisations and individuals, including New Forest District Council, Hampshire County Council, The Vec Acorn Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, E J Stephenson Trust, John Coats Charitable Trust, Mary Webb Trust, Music In Ministry, Peter's Trust, Burry Charitable Trust, G T E Cadbury Trust Fund, New Milton and Lymington and Pennington town councils, Peter's Trust, Roger Brooke Trust, Doris Campbell Memorial Fund, Beatrice Laing Trust, Bernard Sunley Trust, Congregational & General Insce, Jerermiah Colman Gift Trust and Mondegreen EB.
Further information, see www.lymurc.org.uk and www.basicsbank.org.uk or call Lymington URC T. 01590 676306