A bespoke social, training, recreation and learning centre in Ramsgate for young people and adults with special needs and/or disabilities has welcomed 6500 members of the SEND community through its doors since opening last October.
The Hive, behind Foreland Fields School in Newlands Lane, has also hosted more than 100 inclusive sports games/matches played across 17 different types of sports. Sports associations BeeCycle, Thanet Wanderers, Thanet Galaxy and Inclusive Sports are all on board using the facility.
Now The Hive, headed by Foreland Fields Charity working with Kent County Council and assisted by GPM2 Design Architects & Surveyors, has announced the launch of The Hive Traineeship, an initiative to equip individuals with SEND with the skills, experience, and confidence to enter the workforce.
By working closely with local businesses, educators and community organisations, the tailored programme provides hands-on mentorship and life skills training, helping participants overcome barriers to employment and education. More information can be found here.
The Hive also announces the launch of Thrive at The Hive, offering a wide range of bespoke workshops for those aged 55+ with additional needs and/or disabilities to develop skills in IT, horticulture and gardening, art, sport and exercise, cookery and life skills. Participants can also get involved in community projects. The project is funded by Social Enterprise Kent and Thanet Galaxy and Thanet Wanderers are taking part.
The Hive has also gone live on fundraising platform Spacehive here to raise funds to continue its work.
The Hive is set across five acres of land and features a new FA standard full size football pitch, fully accessible changing facilities and FA standard dressing rooms. Alongside playing fields and an athletic track to host a range of inclusive sports.
Training facilities include a forest and horticultural school planning to offer courses in woodwork, camping skills, outdoor learning activities, and growing fruits and vegetables.
These can be hired by all organisations across sport, recreation, leisure and learning requiring full accessibility for a range of inclusive activities.
It has already become the official training ground of Ramsgate-based pan-disability football club Thanet Galaxy, and is being used by local organisations including Inclusive Sports, Bikeability and Avelo Care.
But The Hive Thanet needs more help with running costs to continue its work and to fund the next stage of its development. This includes enhanced facilities such as a safe and accessible sensory garden, floodlights for sports during the darker evenings and adapted wheelchair bikes and freerider wheelchairs to ensure everyone, regardless of physical ability, can join activities such as cycling, sports and group outings.
The Spacehive crowdfunding campaign is eligible for match funding meaning that for every pound raised by the community, a match funder contributes an additional amount, doubling the campaign’s total funding.
Diarmuid Molloy, The Hive’s Director of Philanthropy, said: “No amount is too small or too large. We are appealing to the Kent community and beyond to help us not just continue our great work but build on it. Creating even better and even more inclusive opportunities for a community that needs all of our help.”
Director Emily Hollis MBE added: “The incredible feedback we’ve had tells us The Hive is making a massive impact already and has the potential to grow into an even better space. “It’s vital for any community interest company to have the support of the local businesses and organisations. We are so grateful for everyone who has come on board so far and for all donations.
“The traineeship programme marks a significant step in our mission to support and empower individuals with SEND in Thanet. And it’s vital we continue to nurture and grow this programme.”
Steve Lancaster, founder of Thanet Galaxy, said: “The Hive offers a completely unique facility. We all feel how special it is. It’s still early days but the potential for us, and all those taking part in inclusive sports and activities, is absolutely huge. We feel we belong here. It’s our home and that is truly special.”
A very positive development.