18 October 2024
Opening Cherished Connection Hub

Yesterday, Andrew Mitchell officially opened the new Connection Hub in Sutton town centre for the much-loved local charity Cherished.

The charity, which was recognised with the King’s Award for Voluntary Service last year, was set up by Sutton’s Hannah Simnett in 2012 to help marginalised and vulnerable girls and boys with confidence, guidance, support and encouragement as they chart the difficulties of young life.

It’s hard to overstate the impact Cherished has had. Through their mentoring and workshops, they have not only offered support but have fundamentally transformed lives.  It’s more than just a charity - it’s a lifeline.

The opening of the Connection Hub marks a new era for Cherished. It is a vibrant community space dedicated to fostering collaboration and building meaningful connections.  It allows Cherished to offer training, support, and resources for children, young people, and families in the local area. Additionally, the hub offers private room hire, hot desking, and stylish meeting spaces, perfect for charities and local businesses.

In fact, even as it was being built, it was fostering new connections. It opened after a huge community effort that saw everything inside the new Hub donated by local businesses. Indeed, it is testament to the importance of Cherished that so many local people came together to create the Hub, supported by the team at the Gracechurch Shopping Centre. They deserve great credit for backing Cherished, and providing the charity with its new home.

Andrew said:

“Above all, my thanks and congratulations go to Hannah and the entire Cherished team.  Hannah’s vision and dedication have been the driving force behind the success of Cherished.  She and her team are a credit to the Royal Town.”

You can find out more by clicking here: https://www.cherisheduk.org/connect-at-our-hub/