Family loss drives wellbeing centre plan for museum

A woman who felt her family did not receive the support it needed after her brother took his own life has helped draw up plans for a new community wellbeing centre.

North Hertfordshire Council is inviting proposals from organisations to transform the Grade II-listed former Hitchin Museum at Charnwood House into a community asset.

Fashion stylist Grace Woodward, 50, is part of a group behind plans to turn it into Apothecary House, which would include a cafe, music studio, wellbeing space and art gallery.

"After my brother died, it gave me the drive to do something about it," she said.

"My experience was we didn't get the help we needed. Having gone through this, my feeling is that community is a safety net," she added.

Woodward said wellbeing would be at the heart of the site, with everyone working there trained as a mental health first aider.

The council has funded refurbishment work and has said the successful applicant could receive further funding to complete remaining works.

As well as renovating the building, the group hopes to restore the physic garden for horticultural therapy and garden workshops.

The proposed centre would also provide a "safe social place" for teenagers, alongside opportunities for children and adults.

Woodward said: "We know many children in Herts have special needs - they need calm sensory spaces but also learning, joy, play, music, art.

"This would be designed as a sensory safe place, from the ground up.

"All the employment would be with that in mind."

She added: "There's been a lot of people wanting to do something for some time, but never quite got it off the ground.

"It really does take the community to do it. That's the strength we have," she said.

The council is accepting applications for Charnwood House until 16:00 BST on Monday.

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