A NEW ‘village office’ has been set up in Lindridge, Tenbury Wells, to tackle social isolation and provide a working space for people living in rural areas.
The pilot project has been created by Malvern Hills District Council in conjunction with Community First and comes amidst a rise in home-working following Covid-19.
The Village Office provides a space where people can come together to work, study, hold meetings and more, to prevent loneliness and isolation.
The large space includes a workstation for people to bring their laptops, a social space, a photocopier, printer, WiFi and tea and coffee. There is also high-quality audio-visual equipment available for video conferencing.
An Open Afternoon event at Lindridge Parish Hall is being held at 2pm on Wednesday, March 23, where people can find out more information.
Julia Cooper, Chair at Lindridge Parish Hall, and Richard Rainbird-Hitchins, Secretary at Lindridge Parish Hall, said: “We want the hall to be the hub of the Parish and what better way to utilise the hall, than to join others through sharing workspace. The facilities we have on offer are second to none.”
Nick Comley, Community Business Development Manager at Community First, said: “We know that many people will still need, and want, to work flexibly after the pandemic and the Village Office provides a cost-effective bridge between home working and a full return to the office.”
He added the having high quality co-working space near to where people in rural areas lived would reduce commuting costs and emissions.
And he said – as well as helping people at a financially with rising inflation – it would also help the charities operating in village halls across Malvern district.
Coun Daniel Walton, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Tourism at Malvern Hills District Council, said: “The Village Office is a great concept and opens up lots of opportunities for people living in rural areas across the district.
“The space has the potential to bring together people from different walks of life and it is a great way to network with other home workers and businesses.
“I encourage everyone to go along to the Open Afternoon event to find out more.”
Visit www.lindridgeparishhall.co.uk for more information. Contact the hall directly on 01584 881747 or email [email protected]
