A NEW community hub has arrived in Boscombe which aims to promote healthy living.

The hub in Churchill Gardens, which arrived in Boscombe on Thursday, April 29, will be the home of the Boscombe ASPIRE project.

The food and health community project will offer residents who have been long-term unemployed opportunities to grow fresh produce, learn new skills, focus on health and wellbeing, whilst improving their employment prospects.

Kelly Ansell, director of communities at BCP Council said: “The arrival of the new ASPIRE hub in Churchill Gardens is an exciting step forward for the project. This will provide the most vulnerable residents of Boscombe access to new opportunities to learn new skills as well as adopting a healthy lifestyle by getting involved in food skill projects and being able to participate within the community to create a positive change for all.”

There have also been recent improvements to the recreational area in the gardens, including new fitness equipment.

Boscombe ASPIRE has been developing a network of local community businesses and organisations to offer activities to residents.

Some projects will be available to all residents. However, the focus of Boscombe ASPIRE will be for eligible residents to access a 12-week programme, including work experience, sharing of skills, opportunities to reduce food waste and to celebrate the diversity of our community.

There are plans to provide a passport of activities – mapping what is available in the area and when – so residents can easily navigate between ASPIRE and existing activities.

The new ASPIRE hub, which will also be the new home for the Joy Café, will accommodate a space for learning, cooking, relaxing and community use and new toilets.

To find out more visit bcpcouncil.gov.uk/Aspire or contact aspire@bcpcouncil.gov.uk