By Theo Tanser, Community Builder for Hele, Watcombe & Barton

We challenge you to rediscover your local community spaces.

As community builders, Dan Best and I work in Hele, Watcombe and Barton.

We always start by listening to what you want, your interests, your passion in life.

Sometimes these things are in the past and need re-awakening. Sometimes people want to try something new.

These conversations with people in our community lead to friendships, a sense of belonging and a greater sense of purpose; lives become more fulfilled and wellbeing is enhanced.

As community builders, we enable, encourage, and sometimes just give permission.

In our area, we have fantastic local spaces that provide activities and opportunities to get out and meet people, so we encourage and challenge you to rediscover your local community spaces.

The Medway Centre in Watcombe offers a bi-weekly lunch club on Thursdays, Autumn Club on Mondays, cash bingo on Thursdays, puppy school twice a week and line dancing is coming back in September.

Contact manager Margaret Pilgrim on 01803 312026 to book.

The Acorn Centre in Barton has a variety of sports going on in the main sports hall, dance and exercise classes in the dance studio and the community garden “Our Space” has a garden coffee morning on Mondays 10am to 1pm.

On Fridays, there is an adult forest school wellbeing group from 1pm to 4pm.

Contact Dan Best on 07905 765263 or David Martin on 01803 328819 for more information.

The Windmill Centre in Hele has a Community Catch-up Café, with a table-top sale on Thursday mornings, chronic pain café on alternate Thursday afternoons, Turning Heads community café on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, starting in September. They also provide counselling and benefits advice.

For more details, contact manager Emma Ellis on 01803 314876.

Cricketfield Community Garden on Cricketfield Road, offers an open session from 10am to 1pm on Tuesdays during the summer holidays. Contact Dan Best.

Last month, residents of Lichfield Avenue in Hele held a jumble trail, which was very successful with more than 12 stalls selling an array of items.

This will be held again this month on Sunday, August 15, from 10am to 1pm. Do come along.