Boscombe hub marks one year and 2,200 visits

The Access Wellbeing hub in Boscombe marked its first anniversary this week at a special event attended by MP Tom Hayes. The hub offers free mental health and wellbeing support to anyone aged 18 and over, with no appointment needed, and has welcomed over 600 people in 2,260 visits since opening its doors in September 2024.

Tom Hayes, MP for Bournemouth East, returned to the central Boscombe hub on Monday 15 September, after officially opening the space a year ago. He met with the hub’s team of wellbeing coordinators to hear more about how they support and empower people to live well, working with partners across the community to enable clients to find the right help.

Speaking at the event, Tom Hayes MP said: “It’s been a privilege to return to the Boscombe hub a year after it opened. Having run mental health services for five years, I know just how vital it is to have support like this, where anyone can walk in, be heard, and get help without delay. The work the Access Wellbeing team is doing is amazing, and I’m looking forward to them supporting many more people in the coming years.”

The Boscombe hub is one of 30 Access Wellbeing services now open across Dorset, delivered through an innovative partnership between the voluntary sector and the NHS. In addition to the Boscombe hub, services in East Dorset have expanded over the last few months to include seven additional drop-in spaces around Bournemouth, Christchurch, Wimborne and Ferndown. These new spaces have already seen over 100 visits.

Joshua Hevicon, Service Development Lead for Access Wellbeing East Dorset, said: “It’s amazing to think how far we’ve come in just 12 months. Every visit represents someone who felt able to reach out for support – and that’s exactly why we’re here. I’m so proud of our team, who have given people a safe space to be heard when they need it most. Whether people are struggling with their mental health or facing practical worries around housing, money or other issues, we’ve been able to sit beside them and help them find the support they need.”

Access Wellbeing hubs and drop-in spaces offer people easy access to support, and are open to anyone aged 18 or over in Dorset. They are staffed by friendly wellbeing coordinators who can take the time to listen when things get tough, and help to address the challenges that can make life feel overwhelming.

Morad Margoum, Service Director for Mental Health at Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust said: “Having worked in and around Boscombe for many years, it’s wonderful to see what has been achieved in just a year at the long envisioned Boscombe hub – and at our Access Wellbeing hubs and drop-in services across the county. Open-access services like these are paramount – they give people a welcome space to turn when they need support. We’re delighted to be working with the voluntary sector through the Access Wellbeing partnership, which is already making such a difference across Dorset.”

Paul visited the Boscombe hub earlier this year, and says he would recommend the service to anyone: “If you need a one-to-one, or a bit of emotional support, I would say come here. You’ve got a friendly, listening ear – they will cut out a space for you to just offload. And sometimes, I think that’s all we need.”

Find out more about Access Wellbeing hubs and drop-in spaces in our Places and Spaces section.