SARAH’S BLOG: Different Models, Shared Purpose: Supporting Worcester’s Community Centres

At this week’s Communities Committee (11th March 2026) we received the annual update from Worcester Community Trust (WCT), which manages six community hubs across the city.

The presentation highlighted the significant range of work being delivered — including youth provision, domestic abuse support, wellbeing programmes and projects tackling loneliness and isolation. These services clearly make a real difference to many residents across Worcester.

During the meeting I made the point that community provision in Worcester operates through more than one model.

WCT runs a multi-hub network, supported by grant funding, contracts and partnership programmes which enable a wide range of services to be delivered through those buildings. As Helen explained during the meeting, these projects also help keep the hubs open for longer periods because staff are already delivering services on site.

Alongside this, Worcester also has independently run community centres, supported by volunteer trustees, local fundraising and in some cases parish council support. These centres operate differently, but they also play an important role in supporting their communities and providing spaces where people can connect, access activities and find support.

Both approaches strengthen our city.

Understanding the strengths of these different models will become increasingly important as Worcester prepares for Local Government Reorganisation and the future shape of community provision.

Community centres are not simply buildings — they are part of the social infrastructure of our city, helping reduce isolation, support families and create stronger communities.

As councillors we need to understand and support the different ways these services are delivered, so that the whole system of community provision in Worcester remains strong for the future.

See my interaction with Helen Davis in council below: