Community hub

Please note we are currently not accepting donations of reminiscence and vintage items on our Info Desk. Of course books and classical CDs are welcome for our monthly book sales. 

Welcome to our modern community hub providing a welcome space for a coffee, a chance to take part in an activity class or to volunteer to run our community library or not for profit cafe. The hub is a popular venue for old and young alike, with a footfall of over 180,000 a year there is always someone to talk to or something new to learn. It’s as much a home to mums and toddlers enjoying cakes and games in the cafe, as it is for families touched by dementia. We have a gift shop selling artisan and vintage items and a selection of books from our monthly book sales.

Of course, we can only do what we do because of the invaluable support of our volunteers who really do keep the organisation going. From running free smartphone and tablet training for older people to supporting people with dementia, serving 1000s of cups of tea in the cafe and issuing 100s of books they bring light and friendship to Age Exchange. They make the hub a safe place to be, if you are on your own or with a group of friends you can come in for a natter or for some peace for some time to reflect. Every year our active volunteers provide over 10,000 hours of volunteering helping to create a warm and friendly space at the same time as learning new skills, developing a network of friends and providing a service to the community.

Age Exchange has hosted hundreds of hours of activity classes from seated Pilates and belly dancing for our older customers through to rhyme time for the little ones. Classes develop through the ideas of volunteers and local people, enabling the hub to be driven by the community.

Our community hub is part of our commitment to counter loneliness and isolation. We know that loneliness has a significant and lasting effect on health and that over 1 million older people say they are always or often lonely.