SARAH’S BLOG: Community Centres Change Lives — That’s Why I’ll Fight for Them

People sometimes ask why I care so deeply about community centres. The answer is simple: I’ve seen what happens when people don’t have them.

Through my work as a magistrate, I’ve seen the consequences when young people — particularly boys — grow up without positive role models or supportive environments. In a society where family breakdown is increasingly common, too many young people lack the stable influences that help them grow into confident, responsible adults.

This isn’t just something I’ve seen professionally. It’s also personal.

I grew up in a broken home, and later in life I was a divorced single parent myself. I saw first-hand how the absence of male role models affected both my son growing up and my brothers when we were children.

When I was young, I found something that helped fill that gap: a church youth club. It was a place where I felt I belonged. A place where I could play, try new things, build confidence and feel part of something bigger than myself.

I still remember the joy of the Christmas parties we had there. One evening, one of the youth leaders pointed out the constellation Orion to us. To this day, every time I see Orion in the night sky, I remember that moment — and the people who gave their time to create those memories for children like me.

That sense of belonging matters.

Yesterday I visited Lyppard Hub during one of their Warm Hub activities. A group of retired residents had gathered for a warm lunch and some companionship in a welcoming space.

Lauren, the centre manager, mentioned that it’s often men who find it hardest to cross the threshold and join in — which makes them particularly vulnerable to loneliness and isolation. So it was genuinely heartwarming to see them sitting together, chatting and enjoying each other’s company.

The warmth of the room was important. But the human connection being created there was even more valuable.

Thanks to our wonderful Warndon Parish Council, that project is possible.

Earlier that same morning, Lauren told me the toddler group had been packed — more children than ever before. The centre was buzzing with young families, laughter, and the small chaotic joy that comes with a room full of toddlers discovering the world.

From toddlers to teenagers, parents to pensioners — the work being done to educate, inspire and connect people is hard to measure in statistics.

But if you’ve ever felt lonely or disconnected, you’ll understand its value.

That’s why I will keep banging the drum for community centres.

Lyppard Hub’s activities are attended by people from all over Worcestershire. The connections made there may shape entire lives — just as my youth club shaped mine.

And that matters.