Funding secured for St. Dunstan’s House Community Health and Wellbeing Centre

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Glastonbury Town Council is announcing a significant milestone in the development of the St Dunstan’s House Community Health and Wellbeing Centre, with a successful application to the Government’s Community Ownership Fund securing £500,000 and a £50,000 donation from a local grant-giving body.

This success builds upon a broader funding effort for the project, which is part of the Glastonbury Town Deal initiative, and represents a key step in turning the vision for a state-of-the-art, community-driven health and wellbeing facility into a reality. With this new infusion of funds, the total secured for the project now stands at £2.2m and the Town Council is much closer to funding the project from grant funding and has significantly reduced the need for any monies raised from a loan.

The St Dunstan’s House Community Health and Wellbeing Centre is set to transform the heart of Glastonbury by providing a space that fosters community health, supports mental and physical wellbeing, and offers vital services to local residents. The project aims to address the increasing demand for healthcare services, wellness support, and social activities in the region, offering a much-needed hub for all ages and backgrounds.

This success in securing funding through the Community Ownership Fund is particularly significant because it demonstrates the strength of the project’s community backing. The Centre is designed not just as a health service provider but as a community asset that will be owned and managed by the Town Council for the local population, ensuring its long-term sustainability and relevance to the needs of Glastonbury’s diverse population. The fund is a government initiative that supports community groups and local authorities to acquire and manage assets that are important to local communities, such as public buildings, land, or recreational spaces. For Glastonbury, it is a key part of a broader vision to reimagine and rejuvenate the town’s infrastructure to better serve local residents.

The £500,000 from the Community Ownership Fund adds to the £1.6 million already secured from the Glastonbury Town Deal, which itself is part of a £3.6 billion government investment aimed at regenerating towns across England. This funding has been instrumental in supporting the project’s early stages, including extensive planning and consultation with local residents, health professionals, and other stakeholders to ensure that the Centre will provide the right services and meet the community’s needs. Glastonbury Town Council recently announced a partnership with the West Mendip Primary Care Network and the Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership to ensure that the centre provides for local people from both a health and wellbeing point of view. Moreover, the additional £50,000 from a local grant-giving trust underscores the strong support for the project from within the local community. It also highlights the town’s commitment to building partnerships with local charities, businesses, and philanthropic organisations to enhance the project’s impact.

With these funding successes, the St Dunstan’s House Centre is set to open its doors in the summer of 2025. In addition to providing essential health and wellbeing services, it will offer a range of community activities, classes, and support networks designed to improve the overall health and social cohesion of Glastonbury. This will include spaces for fitness and rehabilitation, mental health support, and even social events, aimed at reducing isolation and encouraging positive, healthy lifestyles.

The completion of the St Dunstan’s House Community Health and Wellbeing Centre represents an exciting new chapter for Glastonbury, one in which community resilience, health, and wellbeing are at the forefront of local development. The £550,000 secured in this latest funding round takes the project a significant step closer to becoming a reality, providing a lasting legacy for the town and a model for future community-led regeneration initiatives.

The Community Ownership Fund has awarded £135 million to 409 projects across the UK, with £93.4 million allocated to 283 projects across England, £22 million allocated to 57 projects in Scotland, £8.8 million to 30 projects in Wales and £11.4 million to 39 projects in Northern Ireland. Read more about the Community Ownership Fund here and the successful projects here.

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