Community Good News Story: Celebrating Heart of Sidley and the Sidley Hub
The RVA team is delighted to celebrate the upcoming opening of the Sidley Hub and to recognise the incredible journey of Heart of Sidley, whose work over the past decade has helped shape a stronger, more connected community in Sidley.
The Grand Opening and Summer Festival on Sunday 28th June marks a major milestone for the area, bringing together residents, partners and supporters to celebrate the launch of a fantastic new community space created by and for local people. The Sidley Hub represents over ten years of vision, persistence and collaboration, resulting in a welcoming place where people can meet, take part in activities, access support, and feel a stronger sense of belonging.
RVA has been proud to support Heart of Sidley throughout much of this journey. What began as a grassroots community initiative has grown into a highly respected local organisation, playing a key role in community development, partnership working and resident-led action across Sidley.
Our support over the years has included governance and organisational development, financial management support (thank you Peter!), networking and partnership building, and collaboration on community events and local initiatives. A key part of this journey has also been recognising and championing the vital contribution of volunteers, whose time, energy and commitment continue to sit at the heart of everything Heart of Sidley achieves.
This felt especially significant as we celebrated Volunteers’ Week 2026, as it is a timely reminder of just how essential volunteering is to community-led change. The success of Heart of Sidley, and now the creation of the Sidley Hub, simply would not have been possible without the dedication of volunteers who have supported events, built relationships that matter and helped turn ideas into action.
We were also pleased to see Heart of Sidley recently acknowledge RVA’s support as part of their celebrations. While this achievement belongs first and foremost to the trustees, staff, volunteers and wider community who have worked tirelessly to bring the Hub to life, we are honoured to have played a small part in supporting their journey.
The Sidley Hub is more than a building. It is a symbol of what can be achieved when a community comes together with shared purpose, sustained commitment and strong partnerships. It will provide a lasting legacy for Sidley and a vibrant space for future generations.
We look forward to seeing the Hub thrive in the years ahead and continuing to work alongside Heart of Sidley as they build on this exciting new chapter.