Charnwood Eco Hub: A New Space for Creativity, Sustainability, and Community

The Chesterton House Foundation was delighted to contribute a £1,000 grant to the Charnwood Eco Hub, supporting the launch of their innovative Library of Things. The grant has played a vital role in turning the Hub’s vision into reality, and furthering its mission to encourage creativity, sustainability and resource sharing in the community.

What is the Charnwood Eco Hub?

Charnwood Eco Hub is a Loughborough based Community Interest Company (CIC) set up by friends Sarah Goode and Emma Ward, after they identified a need to bring together local environmental organisations and initiatives, and to raise awareness amongst local residents. Clive Bagley joined them as Director and together they are working to help Charnwood reduce its carbon footprint.

The team has been instrumental in organising local events such as the annual Sustainability Fair (mark your calendar for Sunday 21st September 2025, in Queen’s Park, Loughborough from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm) and the Christmas Eco Market. They’ve also hosted networking events for local eco groups and, more recently, launched the Library of Things.

What is the Library of Things?

Located within SOFA on Clarence Street in Loughborough, the Library of Things is an exciting project designed to provide a welcoming, social and creative space for the community to meet, create, share ideas, and access resources. The Hub includes three key areas:

  • Makerspace: A community workshop space for DIY, crafting, and hobbies.
  • Scrapstore: A collection of clean, safe waste materials available for use in creative, design, and art projects.
  • Library of Things: A lending service where you can borrow tools, equipment, and resources for home improvement, gardening, crafting, and more—just like borrowing books from a traditional library.

You can find out more here.

How the Grant is Making a Difference

Thanks to the £1,000 grant from the Chesterton House Foundation, the Charnwood Eco Hub has been able to equip its Library of Things with a variety of tools and equipment, ensuring a full range of resources is available for the community to borrow for home improvement, gardening, crafting, and other creative projects.

A Buzzing Launch Event

The Hub officially opened on Saturday 1st February, and we were honoured to be invited to the launch event the evening before. Chesterton House Foundation Trustee, Nick and Chesterton House Marketing Manager, Jenny enjoyed an evening filled with community spirit, delicious food from Turnip Point CIC (a social enterprise tackling food waste and food insecurity), and inspiring conversations. The food served was made from surplus ingredients, perfectly reflecting the Hub’s commitment to sustainability and resourcefulness.

The event was well attended, with Charnwood Mayor Julie Bradshaw officially opening the project and Loughborough MP Jeevun Sandhur also joining the celebrations. Emma Ward took the opportunity to thank the dedicated volunteers, local businesses, and SOFA for their unwavering support in making the Hub a reality. She told us:

“The support from the Chesterton House Foundation has been instrumental in getting the Hub off the ground. This space is all about creativity, learning, and sustainability, and it’s fantastic to see the community already benefiting from it.”

How Does The Library of Things Work?

The Library of Things is open to everyone, offering the perfect opportunity to borrow tools, find materials for creative projects, or simply meet like-minded people. Here’s how it works:

  1. Join as a member. There is a small annual fee for both the Scrapstore and the Library of Things.
  2. Shop: Once you’re a member, you can access the online catalogue and reserve items for a small fee.
  3. Collect your membership card.
  4. Borrow/Collect your items.
  5. Enjoy discounts on additional services and items.

The opening Hours (from 1st February 2025):

  • Wednesdays: 3-7pm (access via Clarence Street)
  • Thursdays: 10am-1pm (access via main SOFA entrance)
  • Saturdays: 10am-2pm (access via main SOFA entrance)

Get Involved!

The Charnwood Eco Hub is a fantastic example of how communities can come together to support sustainability, creativity, and resource-sharing. If you’d like to get involved — whether by donating items, volunteering, or simply making use of the Hub’s resources — there’s a place for you.

The Chesterton House Foundation is proud to support local initiatives like this, helping to build a brighter, more sustainable future for everyone in Charnwood.

For more information, visit Charnwood Eco Hub, call 01509 447075, or stop by during opening hours. To learn more about the Chesterton House Foundation visit www.chestertonhouse.co.uk/foundation.

 

Posted on: 4th February, 2025
Posted by: The Chesterton House Team