About The Bentham Hub
The Bentham Hub is more than just a shop—it’s a community-built effort, created by and for the people of Bentham.
It all began with a simple idea and a few volunteers, and has since grown into a place that gives life to both goods and people. We take donations of everything from furniture to clothes, and the money raised goes back into local causes.
But more than that, it’s become a hub where people come to chat, share a cup of tea, or just find a bit of company. In short, The Bentham Hub is about community, generosity, and togetherness.
How It All Began
In March 2022, Liz Brown, the owner of an empty shop in Bentham, was selling her parents’ unwanted items to raise money for the Ukraine war effort. Liz ended up raising £7,500. She was then going to close the shop and sell it, but a conversation sparked a new idea.
“If we can raise £7,500 for Ukraine in a few months,” I said to Liz, “just think what we could do for Bentham.”
By this time, other people had volunteered to help, and a few like-minded people decided to go for it. The idea of The Hub was born.
Liz agreed to take the shop off the market, rent it to us, and see what happened. We had no idea what would come of it—it was scary. Would people support us? Would we get donations? Could we cover our costs? If we were going to do this, we had to do it properly. We sorted out insurance, did risk assessments, got helpers, and even paid for a music licence, which was expensive, but worth it to avoid any trouble later.
We wanted to be accountable and transparent, so we engaged accountants to help with the shop’s financial side. Then we needed a name. Initially, it was going to be just “The Hub,” but the name was already taken. So, we thought, “I bet there’s no other ‘The Bentham Hub,’” and that’s how the name came about. The shop became affectionately known as Hub 1.
Hub 1: The First Step
Hub 1 is on three floors, but we decided to only use the ground floor initially, selling furniture and bric-a-brac. It was nerve-wracking—how would it go? On our first day, we took about £100 and received some donations.
We had to think about who we were going to donate the money to—it was quite a dilemma. After much thought, we decided that our first recipient would be St John’s Hospice. Most people had heard of it, knew it had to fund itself, and recognised the vital part it plays in the community. And so, we were up and running. People started coming in to donate goods, volunteer, or just sit and chat, especially after COVID, when people were isolated and just wanted some company. If they hadn’t sold all the chairs, we’d put the kettle on.
Hub 2: Expanding the Vision
Books began to come in—just a few at first—so we set up a small book corner. It grew quickly, and soon we needed more shelves, and then even more space. Mick, who helped with the books, thought a bookshop would do well. In November 2022, we rented what used to be Barwises Bakery, already kitted out with shelves, and Hub 2 was born.
We had no idea how successful it would be. Mick Reid became a trustee, along with Sharon Haslam and Lesley Barker. We went from strength to strength. We had so many clothes upstairs that we decided to hold a sale and let people shop upstairs. A quick call to the insurance company confirmed we were covered to use the whole building, so we went ahead. It was such a success that we took over £1,000 that weekend—unheard of before then. We decided to use the upstairs for clothes, and that’s how it is today, selling shoes, bags, suitcases, and men’s and children’s clothes as well.
Hub 3: A New Home for the Community
In January 2023, Liz decided it was time to sell the property, and we began looking for new premises. We explored different options, but then the idea of the Old Youth Building (the former Quaker Meeting House) came up. It was ideal, but in a sad state—holes in the roof, black mould everywhere, ceilings coming down, and buckets catching water from leaks.
We found out that the building was owned by the council and had a covenant stating that it had to be used for community purposes. We thought we fitted the bill, so we did everything properly, getting it surveyed. The survey confirmed that the structure was sound, but the building had suffered from being closed up for four years without ventilation.
We put in an offer of £60,000 (they were asking £65,000) and waited. At the last moment, another offer came in matching ours. Special council meetings were held, and we waited anxiously. Finally, at 4:55 pm on a Friday afternoon in July 2023, we got the news—we had won.
Although we didn’t have enough money in the bank, we spent the summer of 2023 fundraising. We set up a GoFundMe page, applied for grants, and received help from Bentham businesses and residents. By October, just three months later, we had reached our target. The council gave us time to fundraise and even offered us a £5,000 discount. We didn’t get the keys until February 2024, but it was worth the wait. The solicitors, Ratcliffe and Bibby, did the conveyancing for free, which saved us a lot of money.
We had the building, but now the renovations began. Since it’s a Grade II listed building, we had to apply for planning permission for everything. Thankfully, we’re allowed to do repairs and cleaning in the meantime. So far, we’ve had the inside and frontage cleaned, a new boiler fitted, and the electrics updated. We’ve also patched up some big holes in the roof, though there’s still more to do when the weather allows.
The good people of Bentham now own the Old Youth Building. We hosted an open day so they could see what they had bought, and the response was wonderful.
Hub 3 is now open by request, and we use it for larger furniture. It’s already becoming an important part of The Bentham Hub, and we’re excited about its future.
Becoming a Community Interest Company (CIC)
From the start, we wanted to support smaller, unregistered groups in Bentham, so we applied to become a registered charity. It was a long and complicated process. After two failed attempts and £3,500 in fees, we decided to become a Community Interest Company (CIC) instead. Three days and £27 later, we were officially The Bentham Hub CIC. The downside is we now have to pay tax and VAT.
Our Ethos
One of The Hub’s mottos is: The answer is never “No”—it’s “How?”
We don’t turn anything away, as long as it’s clean, working, and not broken. We research ways to dispose of items responsibly when they’ve been in the shop for a long time, making sure nothing goes to landfill. We found a company in Scotland that collects and recycles clothes, ensuring they never end up in a landfill.
David Mace, a local businessman, helps by taking our unwanted goods and either reselling or disposing of them. Justin Merry joined our team, researching and valuing more valuable items, which he then takes to auction. Simon Ward from Atkinson Vos sells vintage kids’ toys on eBay for us, and our volunteers cut worn-out T-shirts and bedding into rags to sell to local garages.
We even got a Waste Disposal Licence, allowing us to use a van to take items to the tip. However, despite having all the necessary paperwork, we still can’t dispose of electrical items for some reason. But now, as you might have seen in the Bentham News, we have a van of our own—a beautiful blue VW Caddy—which allows us to do our own runs and even collect and deliver smaller items for a small donation.
Volunteers: The Heart of The Hub
We’re lucky to have over 40 volunteers, including some younger people who help as part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. One young man from Settle College, who is autistic, helped set up our online shop. He summed up his experience of photographing and dressing mannequins with, “Ladies’ clothes are over-engineered and complicated!”
We also have a young lady with special needs who loves to come in once a week to help sort clothes. Her mum tells us she would come every day if she could. Two young men are currently helping out as part of their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and their strength is much appreciated when it comes to moving furniture.
Our volunteers span all ages and backgrounds, and they are the backbone of The Bentham Hub. Their passion and dedication allow us to keep going and ensure that the next generation understands the importance of recycling, reusing, and repurposing.
Moving Forward
So far, we’ve raised over £85,000 for local causes and bought Bentham a fabulous building. With the recent addition of a till and a card machine—thanks to our accountants—we’re even more efficient and accountable.
The Bentham Hub will continue to do what it does best: welcome everyone, accept donations, and give back to the community. Our vision for the future is simple—to make The Bentham Hub the hub of Bentham.
What We Take and What We Don’t We take most things, as long as they are clean, working, and not broken. However, we can’t accept:
- Furniture without a fire certificate
- Mattresses
- Child car seats
- Helmets
Contact Details
- Email: [email protected]
- Landline: 01524 956097
