Ben Maguire calls for ‘Hobby Hubs’ to tackle loneliness in North Cornwall
North Cornwall’s Liberal Democrat MP has called for the creation of new “Hobby Hubs” in community spaces across the constituency, in a bid to combat loneliness and breathe new life into local high streets.
Ben Maguire says libraries, community centres and even pubs could be transformed into welcoming spaces where residents regularly meet to share interests - from photography and knitting to music and board games.
A response to closures and falling participation
Research from the House of Commons Library shows that 498 libraries and leisure centres have closed across the UK since 2015.
In rural areas like North Cornwall, the loss of these shared spaces has left many residents with fewer opportunities to socialise in person.
At the same time, new data reveals the average time people spend on hobbies has fallen sharply - from 353 hours per year in 2020 to just 147 hours in 2024.
Maguire warns that the UK is facing a “crisis of connection”, driven in part by the decline of community infrastructure.
What are Hobby Hubs?
Under the Liberal Democrat proposal, existing venues such as Bodmin Library, Lanivet Parish Community Centre and the John Betjeman Centre in Wadebridge could apply for grant funding to host regular hobby groups.
Funding would help provide shared equipment - including sewing machines, cameras, musical instruments and board games - reducing the financial barriers that can prevent people from taking part.
The proposal also suggests allowing GPs to “prescribe” participation in Hobby Hubs to patients at risk of loneliness or isolation, integrating the scheme into local health and wellbeing strategies.
‘Hobbies are not a luxury’
Speaking about the initiative, Maguire said:
“For too long, our communities have been losing their bonds. We are facing a silent epidemic of loneliness.
Places like Bodmin Library, the Lanivet Parish Community Centre, and the John Betjeman Centre in Wadebridge are the backbones of our communities.
They provide something priceless - a space that isn’t work and isn’t home, but somewhere people can simply come together.
Hobbies are not a luxury. They are a lifeline.”
He added that Hobby Hubs would offer “practical, local spaces where people can connect, create and belong once again.”
The proposal forms part of a wider push to address social isolation in rural communities, while supporting struggling local venues and revitalising high streets across North Cornwall.