© 2025 Reconnection Dorchester CIC
The Little Keep
Barrack Road
Dorchester
DT1 1SQ
Registered in England & Wales as a Community Interest Company (CIC) no. 16652702
Building a community, business and creative hub for Dorchester
Read on for more information about the concept of re:connection - why we think it's needed, what the space could include and its vibe.
We've listed the next steps we need to take, some inspiring case studies of successful projects elsewhere, and some frequently asked questions. Finally, you can contact us to ask a question, share an idea, sign up for emails, or offer to help!
At this early stage, these are only ideas. We need to test local feeling about this concept and understand the priorities for relevant organisations and groups in our town, as we want to move forward with broad support as well as build a hub which meets real evidenced need and not just good guesses! We also need to research potential funding sources, partnerships with our councils and other partners and stakeholders, and look for potential premises.
It's all about how to re:connect with each other, and build a stronger and more resilient community. You're invited!
"Once we start to act, hope is everywhere. So instead of looking for hope, look for action. Then, and only then, hope will come."
Greta ThunbergClimate campaignerClick to read more about each aspect of the project below. Or just read down the page in order!
How the re:connection hub might meet needs and solve problems in Dorchester.
Some of the possible different spaces and functions, inside and outside the re:connection hub.
What sort of place could the re:connection hub be? How would it feel?
What we need to start the project, and how you might help.
What's on the initial list of things to do? What's next?
What can we learn from other successful examples of community hubs?
Answers to some of the more commonly asked questions. If your question isn't here - ask it!
Sign up for news about the project and follow us on social media.
Get in touch to offer your skills, find out more and share ideas.
How the re:connection hub might meet needs and solve problems in Dorchester.
Access to affordable social space or cultural experiences is out of reach for some groups. Not everyone can afford to go out and take part in everything Dorchester has to offer, which makes some feel excluded.
Some individuals and families are struggling to afford basics such as nutritious food, school uniforms, or to pay the energy bills needed to stay warm. Even small changes in costs or income can have devastating effects, particularly on children or older people.
To address the cost of living crisis through affordable social space, nutritious food, clothing exchange, toy libary, a 'library of things' and household item repair.
Despite - or perhaps because of technology - many feel more disconnected than we used to. Loneliness is a real and growing problem in all age groups, and for various reasons some children are struggling to develop social skills.
It's less common to engage with people from different backgrounds, and misunderstanding and conflict is increasing, especially online. This affects individual, family and community health and wellbeing.
To tackle disconnection and loneliness, and to foster understanding and mutuality through creation of shared spaces and social experiences.
A growing number have no-one to turn to at a point of personal or family crisis. This puts strain on public services when, in the past, nearby family, neighbours, faith group or the local community might step in to help.
Collectively, we rely on increasingly fragile centralised systems like just in time groceries, mobile phones, internet and power supplies. With climate disruption now a fact of life, we need to rebuild our community resilience.
To build personal, family and community resilience and to be better prepared to tackle crises and challenges as teams rather than individuals.
More of us work from home and are increasingly isolated. Excessive solo working is usually not good for our mental health, and not great for organisations either, as we have evolved to work in teams and through personal contact. Office space can be prohibitively expensive for the sole trader or home-based worker, and it can be challenging for young people especially to get started without premises.
To reduce a sense of isolation caused by remote working and ‘home-delivery culture’, rebuilding opportunities for in-person engagement, collaborative workspaces, shared community pride and more support for start-ups and creatives.
Research shows that towns can reach a tipping point when what is offered reduces to a level where it becomes difficult to do everything you need on one visit. People visit less often, making it even harder for businesses, arts and heritage, which accelerates decline. With global online competition, our town centre needs to offer something different - experiences, retail and service you simply cannot get on the web.
To improve the attractiveness and vibrancy of our town centre by providing a new reason to visit, increasing overall footfall, supporting and promoting other cultural and commercial venues, and restoring a disused heritage building.
Young people are especially under pressure at school, home and with friends. They can feel isolated and not have spaces to belong in, increasingly in the virtual rather than the real world. Opportunities for intergenerational support and connection seem harder to find and nurture, and the focus on academic success can crowd out time for important life skills and creative interests that make life worthwhile.
To support children and young people in a rapidly changing and challenging world with a safe space simply to be, to meet each other, to find help, to explore their interests and talents, and to develop essential life skills.
What sort of spaces might be at the re:connection hub? What functions might it fulfill?
Here are some initial ideas. We need to research where and how they work elsewhere, and discuss within our community what we think we need and what would work here.
Above all, we want to work in partnership to 'fill the gaps' rather than 're-inventing the wheel'. Where some of these spaces and functions already exist in some form in Dorchester, we want to involve those experts and ensure that re:connection complements, expands on and works in partnership with them.
A welcoming and comfortable space to meet others, or to be 'alone-not-alone'.
Read, swap books, play board games, chat...
Affordable space which businesses and local organisations can book for board-style meetings, discussions and collaborative work.
Booths and desks for individuals to hire for work, with wifi, printing and refreshment facilities.
Phones away - come for a 'pay what you can' cuppa and a proper chat with friends old and new at communal tables.
Supported by a volunteer team.
A community larder reduces food waste through donations of excess food, and meets needs for those struggling to feed their families who can collect it. Or we could take it further and set up a food coop (buying food collectively to reduce cost) or a social supermarket. These solutions would add value by being part of re:connection, and be supported by it to.
Space for pre-schoolers to play together as parents relax and chat.
Borrow some toys from our community toy library to take home - but bring them back next week for others!
A safe space managed by young people for young people with support from trained mentors.
Positive stuff to do, people to meet, games to play.
An relaxing outdoor space for social connection, community gardening, nature recovery and children's play.
Help, support and signposting for residents, and a town centre presence and contact point for local organisations who may otherwise struggle to promote their existence and activity.
A warm welcome and an information for visitors on what to do and see in Dorchester, promoting and signposting to other venues and services in the town.
Provision of in-person banking services and support in partnership with providers, replacing facilities recently lost in town.
An area for volunteers to help repair and reuse devices, keeping them out of landfill, saving money and building skills and friendships.
Donate and collect good quality clothing and save money on school uniforms and children's clothes as they grow!
Spaces for creative displays and creative health projects, in partnership with other venues and specialists in town. Potential as a venue for music and arts events in partnership with existing agencies.
Ideally in an iconic heritage venue itself, re:connection could be a town centre 'shop front' for local history and heritage attractions, including space for exhibitions, or just as a meeting point for historical exploration.
Depending on the building we secure, and working in close partnership with the Town Council to complement and support other markets, we could look at providing space especially for small start ups, creatives and makers who might otherwise not be able to afford premises.
We would be especially interested in supporting young people to learn new work skills and develop their interests and talents in a carefully managed space where they could meet and sell to customers.
What sort of place could the re:connection hub be? How would it feel?
Spaces to work, individually or collaboratively, with options for registered office address, postboxes and mail forwarding.
Space that promotes mental wellbeing by rebuilding connections with each other, our environment, and ourselves.
A central location to meet for business or social reasons, close to Dorchester services, businesses and transport links.
A space to make new friends and connections, with everyone made to feel welcome.
Space that promotes wellbeing through physical activity, tasty local food, purposeful volunteering, and good conversation.
Space that supports all ages from practical matters to life purpose, from IT to finding work.
A busy place for networking, supporting each other, sharing ideas, working on projects and for social and creative events.
A place that builds practical skills, fixes things and builds personal, family and community resilience.
Space for everyone to relax, socialise, or be 'alone-not-alone', regardless of income.
A place where young people and vulnerable adults especially can feel safe, welcomed and supported to grow.
A place that challenges everyone from babies to older people to think, communicate, solve problems, and enjoy life to the full.
A place that leads through inspiring example and education in reducing waste and adapting to the climate and nature emergencies.
A place which respects and promotes our town heritage and history for the future. A place which people remember, and want to come back to. If we could achieve all the above objectives at the same time as restoring and re-using an iconic Dorchester building that would be ideal!
What we need to start the project and how you might help. Different types of volunteering opportunities will arise as soon as we open.
What's on the initial list of things to do? What's next?
What can we learn from other successful examples of community, business and creative hubs?
More of a community venue than a 'drop in' hub, the Allendale is nevertheless an inspiring example of what can be done by a determined local community. Pop in for a tasty bite to eat at its community cafe.
Board in the City is a cafe full of board games! 'More than just a cafe, we're a passionate hub dedicated to bringing people together, supporting local initiatives and creating a warm, welcoming space for all ages.'
In 2019 the community bought a vacated bank in Chipping Norton. With a motto of 'building hope', The Branch now provides a community cafe and hub addressing mental wellbeing, debt, loneliness, domestic abuse and more.
The Waffle House is a 100% non-profit café and community space with a menu which centres around its trademark Liège waffles. Their HQ is in Axminster & they have recently opened a second site in Lyme Regis.
We love some of the things they are doing like IT support for older people, play for children, food for families, and even banking facilities. That's not to mention the waffles!
Open to all from Monday to Sunday, 9am-4pm, Graylingwell Chapel is a go-to community hub in Chichester. Enjoy the café, a vibrant meeting space to connect with friends and family, and a pre-school play area for young children.
During the day, there is a wide range of community activities, such as Chatty Café, IT Drop in and Stitch Club. The aim is to provide something for everyone, fostering a sense of community and togetherness.
Thirst is a safe space for young people to chill, snack, and have fun.
Thirst have loads of things to do - Enjoy games, get creative, and connect with friendly youth workers. No parents or grown-ups allowed unless they are volunteering with Thirst!
Find out more from Bishop Stortford Youth Project who run the cafe as well as other innovative youth projects.
The Nest is a not-for-profit collection of community social supermarkets based in Weymouth. They provide cheap, good quality, nutritious food to families and individuals who have limited disposable income.
The idea of a social supermarket is to empower those in need to be able make their own choices and to support independence. Shoppers still pay, and the business needs to make a surplus, but the food is affordable. The system aims to reduce the stigma around needing help with food, which is something that can happen to any of us.
One option could be Banking Hubs run by the Post Office. On High Streets like Dorchester's where bank branches have closed, they are helping people and businesses deposit and withdraw cash. Post Office / LINK assess communities to work out where these services need to go to preserve good access to cash.
Alternatively, re:connection may be able to develop a partnership with a specific bank or banks to run something independently here in Dorchester as part of our hub.
Two inspiring community hubs in Stroud and Cirencester, based around sharing food, tackling pooor nutrition and social isolation at the same time. We're keen to find out more about this one. They say:
"We’re all about radical hospitality… Because amazing things happen when we eat together. Every hot meal served is pay-as-you-can, so our food is accessible to everyone, regardless of means. It’s not about charity – it's about dignity, equality, and a community supporting neighbours who need a little help. It's about creating a space where everyone is welcome to feast, talk, laugh, and find a place."
These projects operate according to some interesting 'monastery principles', which may not be what you think and are worth reading about!
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© 2025 Reconnection Dorchester CIC
The Little Keep
Barrack Road
Dorchester
DT1 1SQ
Registered in England & Wales as a Community Interest Company (CIC) no. 16652702