Our History

Paula Woolven B.E.M. founded Havens Community Hub in 2018 to address gaps in services across the Havens Coastal Stretch. The Hub creates, develops and supports initiatives to meet community needs, starting with the successful Havens Community Cars, a volunteer transport service, and Havens Happy Clubs, social clubs for older residents. Both have since become independent charities and in Summer 2024 the Havens Community Cars won the prestigious Kings Award for Voluntary Services.

The Havens Food Co-operative project followed launching in 2020 and still working within the Hub today, rescuing surplus food to support those facing food insecurity while reducing waste. The project saves up to 3 tonnes of surplus food every single week.

In September 2024, the Food Cooperative expanded to introduce Havens Connections Café, a welcoming space to reduce social isolation, utilising some of the surplus food collected and also running a pay it forward scheme where residents at risk can access free community meals. The Café also hosts sessions run by the Havens Support & Volunteer Hub, and other groups including SEN parents club, French Conversation Club, BSL group and Care for the Carers. These sessions which connects residents with essential services and volunteer opportunities.