Edward Hain Centre in St. Ives Awarded Over £172,000 from National Lottery Community Fund

The Edward Hain Centre in St. Ives has secured over £172,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund, marking a major step forward in its mission to provide vital health and wellbeing services to the community.

A Turning Point for the Centre

The funding will support the Centre’s running costs and allow for the hiring of two new staff members to expand services for residents. This comes at a significant moment, as the Centre continues to grow since opening its doors two years ago.

Chair of Trustees Lynne Isaacs said, “This is very timely icing on our birthday cake! We’ve come a long way in the two years since we opened, but there’s still a long way to go.”

To mark the achievement, a giant cheque presentation will be held at the Centre’s upcoming Community Open Day on September 6th.

From Struggles to Growth

In its early days, the Centre relied solely on the efforts of Sharron Goldingay, who managed challenges such as a £400,000 mortgage from the NHS’s £1 million purchase price, urgent renovations, and strict health and safety requirements.

Support from grants, donations, and the Friends of the Edward Hain Centre made it possible to introduce services like the NHS-run Pain Café and a Knit and Natter group. The St. Ives Food Bank also joined the building in May 2024.

The addition of an office administrator and community hub officer last September allowed the Centre to increase its free health and wellbeing sessions. By January, yoga, Pilates, and activities for elderly care home residents were running, alongside independent providers such as Penwith Ear Care and Samantha Evamy Counselling.

The Impact of National Lottery Funding

The National Lottery award is being described as a second turning point. Sharron said, “Considering how much extra life and activity our first two staff members brought into the building, we’re very excited about how many more services we could now provide!”

Planned new services may include support groups, Falls Prevention courses and Adult Education.

With her new responsibilities as Centre Director, Sharron will now focus on long-term development. Alongside fundraising strategist Samantha Peters, she plans to apply for substantial capital funding in 2026 to complete renovations on the rest of the building.

A fully restored Centre would host more providers such as NHS services and mental health groups, helping secure financial sustainability while further improving community wellbeing.

Celebrating the Future

The team is eager to share their success with residents at the Community Open Day on September 6th. More details can be found here.

National Lottery players contribute over £30 million a week to good causes across the UK. Last year, the Fund supported more than 13,700 projects, awarding over £600 million in life-changing grants.