David Hurst, the High Sheriff of Essex visited The Witham Hub on Saturday (11th January), to meet three young people who have been working hard to help people in their community. Reuben Keys (16), Isaac Woolstenholme (17) and Bethany Williams (18) had a meeting with the High Sheriff to talk through the excellent work they have been doing and then, much to their surprise, he presented them with Services to the Community Award certificates.
All three were employed for a one-year period at The Hub, funded by the Essex Community Foundation, which ended in July 2024. They have proven to be invaluable to The Hub and were invited to join the staff permanently. Reuben and Isaac have been instrumental in creating a weekly and very popular Tea & Tech event, when people struggling with technology issues can come to The Hub and be shown how to overcome their problems. The two youngsters have shown endless patience in helping people to master apps and other facilities on their phones, tablets and computers. They frequently write down the instructions step by step, just in case the live lesson gets forgotten.
Bethany is on a junior management training programme and is learning about all aspects of the operation of The Witham Hub, with a view to managing it in the future. She runs The Hub’s crisp packet project in which empty crisp packets are used to make blankets for the homeless. Bethany is also the lead for the The Hub’s youth group which particularly focuses on young people with neurodiversity issues.
In his comments after the presentation, David Hurst, High Sheriff of Essex, paid tribute to Tina Townsend and The Witham Hub for the work being done in the community and to the young volunteers he met. He said: “I am delighted that I have been able to make these awards today as it is always a particular pleasure to give Services to the Community Awards to young people. During my year as High Sheriff, I have seen the best of Essex and these young people are very impressive. It was a pleasure to talk to them and to see their passion and enthusiasm for helping people.”
Tina Townsend, Founder and Chair of the Witham Hub Trustees, who nominated Reuben, Isaac and Bethany for the awards, said: “These young people have been fantastic and such a joy to have working with us at The Hub. It has been really touching to see Reuben and Isaac so patiently talking to people struggling with technology, which can seem so frustratingly difficult when you don’t know what you are doing. For one regular visitor, who is in poor health, his weekly visits to Tea & Tech are a highlight of his life, even when he doesn’t have any tech issues! Thanks to Tea & Tech, one elderly lady is now in touch with her family via Facetime, which has changed her life. Bethany has also made a very big impact with her role in the youth group and in developing new projects to help with neurodiversity needs among young people.”
