THE creation of a new wellbeing hub near Chester has moved a step closer following a £17,500 financial boost from Trafford Housing Trust.

The Kelsall Wellbeing Hub in Kelsall will be attached to a new NHS Medical Centre also being built on the site off Chester Road.

When it opens next year, the Hub will provide a range of services aimed at addressing social issues.

As well as providing support for people experiencing challenges in their lives, the Hub will include a daily community café to address the issues of loneliness and social isolation.

The café will be run by volunteers who will be trained as social connectors and trained to listen, understand and signpost people to services provided by the Hub or elsewhere.

The grant from Trafford Housing Trust’s Social Investment Fund comes as Laurus Homes, the housing development arm of the Trust, continues work on its nearby 166-home Earlsbrook development, which sits on the edge of Delamere Forest.

Alongside the contribution from the trust, finance to create the Hub - which will cost £130,000 in total - has been raised through a concerted campaign led by Kelsall Patient Participation Group.

Whilst the full amount has been raised, £73,000 is still needed to repay loans from individuals and local businesses, with more fundraising events planned for this year.

Humphrey Claxton, chairman of the group, said: “We are enormously grateful for this support from Trafford Housing Trust which has given our fundraising efforts a terrific boost. The Wellbeing Hub will be a great resource for the Earlsbrook residents.”

Fay Jackson, social investment manager for the Trafford Housing Trust, said: “Our Earlsbrook development will comprise 166 homes and add around 600 new residents to the area who will be signing up to be supported by the new NHS Medical Centre and Hub.

"We were therefore happy to help out with some of the funding for the new wellbeing facilities.”

Trafford Housing Trust aims to invest £2million a year through its Social Investment Fund into projects that tackle poverty, address inequality, strengthen families and improve skills and employment opportunities to transform lives.