A new community hub has opened its doors in Blakenall, providing local residents with access to affordable food, discounted clothing, and a range of support services — all designed to foster community spirit and improve quality of life.
The Love Blakenall Community Hub officially launched on August 7, 2025, inside the Blakenall Village Centre on Thames Road. The centre features a community pantry where members can pick up discounted food items, and a charity shop offering clothing priced at just 50p. Membership to the pantry costs only £2 per year, making essential goods more accessible to those in need.
The hub also hosts Walsall Connected, a vital service point where residents can access council services in person, obtain food bank vouchers, and receive advice on job seeking and benefits. Additionally, the centre offers ‘coffee with a copper’ — a weekly opportunity for residents to engage with local police officers in an informal setting, helping to build stronger community relationships.
The facility includes two spacious conference rooms available for hire, providing a venue for community events and meetings.
Rob Hughes, director of New Horizons Community Enterprise, highlighted the importance of the new hub in promoting community cohesion. “This is about community cohesion,” he said. “If there are no facilities, there’s nowhere for people to go, and there’s no community. It’s about supporting that community, rather than it being done to them.”
The launch event was attended by several notable figures, including Albert Hodgkins, director; Bob Thomas, vice-chair of New Horizons; Councillor Louise Harrison, Mayor of Walsall; Roy Jones, chair of New Horizons; Eleanor Boycott, chief executive of Bloxwich Community Partnership; Michelle Dudson of Walsall Council; and Rob Hughes, director of New Horizons.
The Love Blakenall Community Hub aims to be a welcoming space that addresses local needs, strengthens social ties, and provides vital resources to help residents thrive. Its affordable membership and diverse services ensure it can be a lifeline for many in the Blakenall area.
