Oakham community hub offers a free meeting space for voluntary groups

Voluntary groups can benefit from a new community hub which has opened in Oakham town centre.

Citizens Advice Rutland has transformed the first floor of its premises into a meeting space with a separate room of hot desks.

The facilities are available for community and voluntary organisations to use free of charge.

Plans were drawn up before Voluntary Action Rutland announced its closure, but the space could prove useful to groups which met there while they look for a more permanent home.

Chief executive officer of Citizens Advice Rutland, Duncan Furey, said: “There has been a lot of gratitude.

“Many smaller groups are always looking for places to meet and now there is somewhere on the High Street which they can access for free.”

Groups had been trialling the space for two months before the official opening took place on Wednesday last week.

The meeting rooms have their own private access via Gaol Street.

The ground floor of the building continues to be used by the Citizens Advice Rutland team for conducting interviews with clients. It continues to be accessed via the High Street entrance.

The community hub can accommodate up to 12 people in a meeting room. Its facilities include a large screen and internet access.

There is currently no disabled access to the first floor facilities, but Duncan hopes to apply for grants to install a lift at a later date.

To enquire about booking the meeting room or hot desks, email conference@citizensadvicerutland.org.uk or call 01572 723949.