01-Apr-2008
Humberts leisure - Village pubs in support of rural services
Traditional rural services and the village inn are under threat. Economic pressures are tempting landlords to sell up and many important local services in the rural community are in danger of disappearing.
But, all is not lost, as many licensees and their communities are seeking alternative ways to save them. Helped by Pub is the Hub, an initiative set up through HRH The Prince of Wales in 2001, a new regional advisory group is to be set up for the South East of England led by Anthony Miller, a Consultant with HLL Humberts Leisure.
With the changing economic pressures and the rapid decline of what were previously seen as essential local services, it is estimated by the Commission for Rural Communities that 70% of villages now no longer have a village shop or Post Office.
Indeed nearly 70% may no longer have their own local pub, which has often been lost for conversion to higher value residential accommodation.
HRH The Prince of Wales established Pub is the Hub in 2001 as part of the Rural Action Programme of Business in the Community, to encourage pub owners, licensees and their local communities to work together and to support, retain and co-locate services where possible within the pub which at the same time will often improve the viability of the total business itself.
The advisory scheme looks for innovative ways to ensure rural pubs remain relevant to the needs of their local communities. In some instances, village communities acting as co-operatives, have bought their own local pub to ensure it is retained as a service centre for the local community.
Pub is the Hub acts as a catalyst for small local groups by helping licensees support their local needs, being concerned with what they have lost or are about to lose and wanting to keep or bring back the local services.
In over 5 years this support network for local licensees has amazingly created over 300 projects nationally. These range from providing local shops, encouraging the local sourcing of products, accommodating Post Office services, providing local school meals, IT training or community centres and even church services and many of the projects today include a local shop plus extra facilities.
Recognising how vulnerable small communities are and how a few small changes can bring about a huge loss of facilities, links have been made to progress schemes with support from Diageo, the Post Office, Enterprise Inns, Punch Taverns, Scottish and Newcastle Pub Enterprises, Marstons and several other trade bodies including the Beer and Pub Association, the British Institute of Innkeeping and the Campaign for Real Ale.
Five regional advisory groups have already been established around the country by Pub is the Hub, in the North West and Cumbria, Yorkshire, East Midlands, Wales and the South West.
John Longden, Chief Executive of Pub is the Hub is delighted to be setting up a South East Advisory Group because there is a constant demand for help and support in many rural areas of the country despite the apparent prosperity of the south east region. Local rural communities need a local base to meet, shop and exchange information and it is only when those services are lost that a community realises that the heart and soul of the village has gone.
This new advisory Group which will be made up of voluntary representatives from the pub industry, Post Office, Local Development and Tourist Agencies and other trade bodies interested in supporting the role of the Pub is the Hub. It will use its many professional and industry contacts to give time to encourage and support rural licensees in the South East.
As well as the hard work put in by the licensees, other values can be measured. These can include an increase in the turnover and profit of the property, the creation of local jobs and support for local suppliers.
Pub is the Hub is more than making a profit, it is also about social values and the motivation of a small community that makes its living and existence sustainable e.g. in being able to go to the shop or Post Office and particularly recognising the disadvantages to the elderly or people on low incomes in being able to obtain services today. People are now more aware of the changing environment and the necessary support that can be encouraged for local communities by championing individual needs.
This project is a way for individuals to support socially responsible issues and initiatives in their communities. After all the position of the local licensee or his landlords is unique as part of the local community as they are used to being seen as the social centre.This is all about encouraging local communities to identify' their own needs, which then becomes the driving force to make it all happen.
Many of the projects around the country have been financially supported by direct grants from Regional Agencies, such as through the East Midlands Development Agency and Cumbria County Council, who have made small services grants available. It is hoped that this may now be replicated in other areas of the country where local needs can be demonstrated. Two interesting examples of projects associated with Pub is the Hub can be seen at The Black Swan, Ravenstonedale in Cumbria and The Blacksmith Arms school meals service in Rothwell, Lincolnshire.
Anthony Miller in welcoming his new community role explained, "Pubs are unique and you have to know the business to help them. All pubs are individual particularly in rural areas and there is never one reason why one is successful and there are many different service provision ideas, which can be incorporated in pubs, sharing overheads or creating part-time jobs.
The more that people are aware of the help and support from Pub is the Hub, with a constantly changing economic environment this advice can hopefully help and encourage many local communities and licensees to retain their necessary services and it is also an exciting and rewarding project with which to be involved and put something back into the industry and community in the South East."
In the News
23-Mar-2012
Pub is The Hub Announces £1.3m Local Services Initiative for Welsh Pubs
Alun Davies, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and European Programmes announced yesterday a £1.3m package of support for local services in rural pubs in Wales through a joint co-operation initiative between Pub is The Hub and Cadwyn Clwyd (the Regional Development Agency for Denbighshire and Flintshire).
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06-Mar-2012
Off to a great start in Lincolnshire
Seventeen pubs expressed their interest in diversification schemes at the Lincolnshire launch of Local Community Services Champions this week.
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25-Jan-2012
Free computer skills training in pubs
Pub is The Hub has joined forces with Lancashire County Council in their Local Community Services Champions initiative to provide free computer classes to absolute beginners.
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