A New Community Hub for South Shore: Bringing Skills, Support and Opportunity to Local Residents

3 hours ago

3 min read

A new community space is taking shape in South Shore, thanks to an exciting partnership between Community First, Blackpool Council and ten local contractors who are coming together to help bring our Borrow It Blackpool Do It Hub to life.

At Community First, we're passionate about supporting people, strengthening communities and creating opportunities that make a lasting difference. This new development is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when organisations and local businesses work together for the benefit of their community.

Turning Empty Properties into Community Opportunities

Through Community First's Borrow It Blackpool project, three adjoining empty properties on Lytham Road, owned by Blackpool Council, are being transformed into a larger, welcoming community space.

The renovation is being supported by ten contractors working with Blackpool Council, who are contributing their specialist skills, labour, materials and equipment as part of their social value commitments.

Their combined expertise is helping to bring the project together, with work ranging from project management, demolition and building repairs to plumbing, electrical work, flooring and decorating.

This partnership demonstrates the positive impact that social value can have when local investment is used to create meaningful opportunities for residents.

Introducing the Do It Hub

Once complete, the new Do It Hub will provide a practical and accessible space where local people can learn new skills, build confidence and access useful household equipment.

The hub will offer a variety of hands-on workshops, including:

DIY skills: Helping residents develop the confidence and practical skills to carry out small improvements around their homes.
Sewing: Opportunities to learn useful everyday skills and explore creative activities.
Decorating: Practical guidance and skills to help people improve their living spaces.

Alongside the workshops, the hub will provide storage for a range of donated household equipment available for residents to borrow for short-term use.

Items will include air fryers, steam irons, gardening equipment and DIY tools, helping people access things they may need without having to purchase them outright.

More Than Just Skills and Equipment

The Do It Hub is being developed as more than simply a place to borrow equipment or attend a workshop. It will also provide opportunities for residents to access useful information, guidance and support with everyday challenges.

Plans include sessions covering topics such as:

Debt management and financial wellbeing.
Housing advice and support.
Addiction support and access to further help.

By bringing practical skills, shared resources and information together in one accessible community space, we hope to make it easier for local people to find the support and opportunities they need.

The Power of Partnership and Social Value

A key part of this project has been the collaboration between Blackpool Council and ten contractors, who have joined forces to contribute their time, knowledge and resources.

The businesses involved are:

Morgan Sindall
I&R Demolition
5am
Ameon
Chartrange
VINCI
JCS Interiors
Active Flooring
MJS Joinery
Prodec Painters & Decorators

Their contributions demonstrate how social value commitments can extend beyond individual contracts and create lasting benefits for local communities.

As Emma Whitty-Haddock, Deputy CEO at Community First, highlighted in Blackpool Council's announcement, this support has been instrumental in turning the Borrow It Do It Hub vision into reality.

Looking Ahead: A Space Shaped by the Community

The renovation work is expected to be completed in early 2027, with the next stage of development involving the community itself.

Local residents will have the opportunity to get involved in decorating and furnishing the space, helping to create somewhere that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of the people it will serve.

We're incredibly grateful to everyone involved in helping make this project possible and look forward to seeing the positive difference the Do It Hub will bring to South Shore.

Together, we're creating more than a community space. We're building opportunities, sharing skills and helping to strengthen our local community for the future.

Community First – Supporting People & Strengthening Places.