The ‘May Hill Hub’ is a local, non-profit shop and workshop space, whose aim is to create a community within May Hill, whilst also making it easier for locals to purchase nicer and more high quality products. I have recently been able to talk with Jane Foot; the original instigator for the Hub. 

The May Hill Hub opened for the first time just before the initial coronavirus lockdown. A few months before however, Jane and a few other locals to May Hill, met several times to discuss their personal ideas about a possible opening for a shop within the community. Whilst popularity of the shop grew, more people put themselves forward to volunteer and help out whenever they could. Slowly, the shop started selling more and more items and eventually 8 main people formed a committee to guide the Hub to success. The idea was then put forward, to create an online version of the shop which turned into a website that still exists today. 

The Hub sells a multitude of things, including: baked goods, crafty workshops, locally produced alcoholic beverages, ‘fruit and veg bags’, dairy and meat products, desserts, and many, many other things. ‘Fruit and veg bags’ (which include seasonal fruits and vegetables of the time) were the first to be established. The rest of the items have all slowly been introduced, through the process of setting the shop up initially; to finding the best sellers and the not so bestsellers. 

A prompted question for Jane was about the main, most successful outcomes she felt had a positive impact on the Hub. “The volunteers are there, week in and week out” “we wouldn't be able to do it otherwise”. Indicating how the Hub is extremely dependent on people getting involved and helping out frequently; also representing what she and others wanted for the Hub… to start a community around it. “Supporting the village hall”. Jane states how the May Hill Hub has become one of the largest contributors and renters to the charity of the May Hill village hall.

As far as promotion for the Hub, Jane and others are still trying to get more people on board. “It's one thing we need to do''. Jane tells me how there's not many people coming forward for that particular role and so simply, it hasn't been done. They are still on the hunt for more volunteers to help it achieve its maximum success. Social media also isn't a large part of the networking around the shop, however notice boards and letters are used frequently. Jane tells me “the clientele that we have are not always on Instagram or Facebook” 

To sum it all up, the May Hill Hub is a very hardworking non-profit ‘business’ whose ideas and creations have been in circulation for 3 years. It is open for anyone to shop there, or get involved in; their volunteers are very much valued.