West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has welcomed funding that will mean a vital Walsall drop-in centre will remain open.
The community drop-in centre, based at Walsall bus station, is one of three set up by community transport groups in disused shop units at Walsall, Coventry and West Bromwich bus stations as part of the wider Let’s Chat pilot scheme.
They have proven to be very popular and have helped to connect more than 7,500 local people experiencing loneliness and social isolation with new friends and vital support services.
With the 12-month Government-funded programme coming to an end, the hubs were left looking for extra funding or facing closure.
Now the West Midlands Combined Authority, led by Mr Street, now given them the lifeline they need with funding from its health and communities programme and from its Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) budget meaning the hubs will now remain open until at least March 2024.
Mr Street said: “These volunteer-run Let’s Chat hubs have been a huge success, and I would like to thank everyone involved for creating warm and welcoming spaces in our bus stations.
“They have shown how our bus stations can mean more to people than simply a way of getting around – they have played a really positive role in supporting people’s mental health and wellbeing.
“They have brought our bus station to life. This funding will ensure that their amazing work continues.”
The hubs have been a vital lifeline for users and keeping them open will support efforts to tackle the negative impact of increased isolation and loss of social interaction across the region on the back of the pandemic.
Debbie Chell, chief officer at Walsall Community Transport, said: “This is fantastic news for users of bus services in the West Midlands. The community hub in Walsall Bus Station is not just a popular meeting place for people to come and chat, but it also provides valuable face to face support and advice to residents who struggle in this digital age.
“After only a few months of being open there is now a real community feel to the bus station with users volunteering their time to help out and other organisations using the space to promote their services to bus passengers.”