The Hobby Hub

Aim: Our vision is to harnesses the power of hobbies to improve wellbeing and establish a space where people can create, collaborate and share.

The Project

Launched in 2022, The Hobby Hub near Peterborough promotes traditional hobbies that range from painting and scale modelling, to sculpting and wargames, textile work and state-of-the-art 3D printing.

Having a hobby can be beneficial for your mental health in several ways. First, engaging in a hobby that you enjoy can provide a sense of enjoyment and fulfillment, which can improve your overall mood and reduce stress. Hobbies can also serve as a distraction from daily worries and help you relax and unwind, which can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.

In addition, hobbies can provide a sense of accomplishment and mastery, which can boost self-esteem and confidence. They can also provide a sense of purpose and meaning, which can give your life direction and help you feel more fulfilled.

Furthermore, hobbies can provide social benefits by giving you the opportunity to connect with others who share similar interests. This can help you develop new friendships and support networks, which can provide a sense of belonging and social support.

Overall, having a hobby can be a valuable addition to your mental health routine and can help you lead a happier and more fulfilling life.

Traditionally hobbies are practised in isolation, often the stereotypical label of ‘Men in Sheds’ or ‘Ladies in their craft rooms.’ The hobby hub plans to smash through these stereotypes by offering a space for all, no matter difference, to come together to collaborate, create and be part of a community of like-minded individuals. We are also here to help those who are yet to find ‘Their Hobby’ and discover the endless possibilities and benefits that hobbies have to offer.

Ollie one of the founders of the Hobby Hub says;

"From the age of 13 I have faced significant lived experience of mental health challenges, being formally diagnosed with a serious mental illness. I have tried many therapies, medications and techniques all to varying levels of success, one thing that has been a driving force in my mental health recovery and a catalyst in said journey has been my passion for my hobbies, A keen railway modeller and all round creative this has given me head space to express myself, practiser mindfulness and seek the scientifically proven benefits that hobbies have to offer".

The Team

The team behind The Hobby Hub collectively have lots of valuable experience to bring the project from concept to reality: 

Ollie Ayres has worked within young people's mental health services within the NHS, most notably winning the national Positive Practise within Mental Health National Shining Star Staff member award for Children and Young People's work. Ollie is keen scale modeller and mental health advocate.

Sally Howell works within the NHS promoting positive mental health and has been instrumental in development of several local mental health charities and projects. Sally has held office with in local parish council and more recently elected as a district councillor.

Stewart Howe has been leading an innovative community development project since 2012, which has been recognised by public sector partners as "the Yaxley effect". Drawing upon his varied experiences across many industries, including the third sector, he has also been involved in helping many charities and social enterprises evolve and grow.

How we will spend our funding

Our funding is used to improve our project in a number of ways:

• Extending our workshop area to improve the community space, increase our opening times and extend our services.
• To help us maintain our services in the face of rising energy costs.  
• Providing resources for the development of new hobby-related materials, such as instructional guides, videos, and other educational content. This can help to expand the scope and reach of the project, making it more accessible to a wider audience.
• Investing in marketing and outreach efforts to raise awareness about the project and its goals. This can include things like social media advertising, email marketing campaigns, and other forms of digital outreach.
• Hiring artists to help with the planning, coordination, and execution of hobby-related events, workshops, and other activities. This can help to ensure that the project is able to reach as many people as possible and provide a high-quality experience for participants.
• Purchasing equipment and supplies necessary for the execution of hobby-related activities, such as art supplies for a painting workshop, or tools and materials for a woodworking class. This can help to make the project more engaging and accessible to participants.