The Mercury Library and Community Hub: Update

The structural build is very near completion and the internal fitting will commence shortly. Whilst Eastleigh Borough Council has funded the building and interior fittings, the ongoing management of the building will be a partnership between Eastleigh Borough Council, Hamble Parish Council and a volunteer representative, with involvement from the housing provider who will manage the flats above the Community Hub.

THE LIBRARY
The library will be stocked with around 2,500 books provided by the Hampshire Library Service. The books will be a mixture of adult and children’s fiction with a selection of large-print books. Although books will be provided by Hampshire County Council, The Mercury Library will be outside their library service, meaning we can adopt our own lending arrangements to reflect local priorities.

MERCURY OLD BOYS: FINAL PARADE
The final parade of the Mercury Old Boys and official naming ceremony of The Mercury Library and Community Hub will take place on 22nd September 2018. The parade will end at the Community Hub with Mercury Old Boys donating a beautiful model of the Training Ship Mercury and statuette of a uniformed cadet to be housed in the new building.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Volunteers for various roles are being recruited now and training will begin shortly. If you can spare 3 or 4 hours on a regular weekly basis or if you could otherwise help on a time-limited project we’d love to hear from you. In return you will meet new people, learn new skills, support the community and gain valuable work experience. Volunteers will not be required to involved in any fundraising activities.

DIGITAL SKILLS AND OUTREACH SERVICES
Hamble Parish Council is keen to support residents who’d like to improve their digital skills, so in addition to the IT stations at The Mercury it has arranged for Barclays to offer ‘Tea and Teach’. This a free service offering one-to-one coaching to help people of any age build their confidence and understanding of computers, smartphones and the internet. Please ring the Parish Council office to add your name to the waiting list for ‘Tea & Teach’ as this service must be pre-booked.

In addition, the Parish Council is talking to various community organisations regarding providing outreach services from The Mercury. One of which is Citizens Advice, who will be starting a monthly service from December.

COMMUNITY GROUPS
It is hoped that new hobby, craft and interest groups will be set up by members of the community and meet regularly at The Mercury (knit and natter, book clubs, creative writing, board games, scrabble club, homework club, business breakfasts etc.). We are especially keen to arrange activities for young people a couple of evenings a week and during school holidays. If you could help with these activities, or know someone who can, please let us know.

GET INVOLVED
Further information regarding various volunteer roles and application forms are available on the news page on the Parish Council’s website: www.hambleparishcouncil.gov.uk

Hamble Parish Council 023 8045 3422 or asstclerk@hamblepc.org.uk