Four community hubs to open in Swindon to bring support closer
New initiatives will offer local advice and services from February
Plans to create four community hubs in Swindon, offering services and support closer to people's homes, are set to be discussed by Swindon Borough Council's Cabinet next week on 4th February 2026.
The hubs will be developed in existing community spaces as part of a partnership with local residents, organisations, and public services. Each hub will be co-designed with the community to meet specific local needs and priorities, rather than following a one-size-fits-all model.
Councillor Jim Grant, Swindon Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnerships, said:
“Our plans for community hubs are about making it easier for residents to get the help they need, close to home, in places they already know and trust.
“By bringing different organisations together in the heart of our communities, we want to make it simpler for people to drop in, have a conversation and get the right help at the right time.
“Over the next year we’ll be testing this approach in four community locations and listening carefully to what residents and partners tell us. What matters most is that these hubs work for local people, so we’ll keep learning, adapting and improving them together as we go.”
What each hub will offer
The hubs aim to gather council services and support from NHS teams, voluntary organisations, and other partners in one place, streamlining help for residents. While offerings may differ based on local needs, expected services include housing and homelessness prevention advice, employment and training support, youth and community services, health and wellbeing assistance, financial and welfare advice, and access to voluntary groups.
Potential wider involvement from schools, the police, community health providers, and other agencies may shape how the hubs deliver services over time.
Locations and launch plans
Swindon Borough Council has identified four library and community locations to trial the hub model throughout 2026:
- Park Library and Reuben George Centre, Park South – opening February 2026
- The Meadows, Penhill – opening March 2026
- Central Library – opening April 2026
- West Swindon Library – opening later in 2026
Approximately half of Swindon's residents already live within a 20-minute walk of one of these locations, and all are connected by public transport. Libraries will remain operational alongside the new hub services.
A prevention-first approach
The hubs are part of Swindon Borough Council’s long-term focus on prevention, aiming to support residents earlier and reduce avoidable crisis situations through better collaboration between services.
Each hub will begin with an initial scope of services, with ongoing conversations with local residents, community groups, and partners shaping the offering over time. Feedback will be used to refine and improve the hub model as it develops.