A social landlord has transformed a former scout hut into community hub where people can access free face-to-face support on issues such as managing finances, health and wellbeing, and employability and skills.

Orbit’s ‘Better Days’ hub in Great Yarmouth, opened by mayor Penny Carpenter, will host sessions by local organisations including Cliff Park Community Church Wellbeing Group and Camerados, an organisation which hosts ‘public living rooms’ across the country to encourage social interaction. A ‘playdate’ session also takes place every Friday morning for children aged five and under.

Orbit worked with social enterprise Volunteer It Yourself, to re-vamp the community space and enlisted the help of young local residents to gain hands-on work experience in trade skills.

Lucy McGovern, Head of Thriving Communities at Orbit, said: “Having a local presence and being able to offer people the face to face support they need to lead happy and fulfilled lives is really important to us. By working with partner organisations, suppliers and local volunteers, we’ve transformed an unloved building into a place which offers a safe place for people to seek help, build friendships and support networks and socialise with their neighbours.”

Nearly 20 local young volunteers recruited from the local Orbit housing community, YMCA Norfolk, Catch-22 Great Yarmouth and Dial Great Yarmouth, had the opportunity to work on the project and gain valuable trades experience, 14 of whom achieved Entry Level 3 City & Guilds accreditations in Carpentry and Health & Safety.

Tim Reading, CEO and co-founder at Volunteer It Yourself, said: “The work carried out at the community hub was quite extensive, and involved building new decking and a pergola in the garden, as well as new kitchen units and a complete redecoration throughout – enabling lots of local young people to gain real life construction experience and accreditations. We’re really proud of our mission to upskill local young people, including young Orbit customers, whilst bringing community spaces back to life to be able to deliver valuable services for local residents.”

The Mayor of Great Yarmouth, Councillor Penny Carpenter, said: ‘’I was delighted to be invited to open what will be a valuable community resource in Gorleston. To see Orbit’s transformation of the venue to create the new Better Days hub was exciting, and the support it will offer people in the borough will be vital. The number of different organisations who will be involved in offering help for our residents is a tribute to everyone involved. It is also heartwarming that local young people had the opportunity to be involved in shaping the hub and helping to create such a fantastic new venue.’’