WILTSHIRE Council has won a prestigious Public Sector Transformation Award that includes The Riverside Community Hub in Malmesbury.

The council’s community hub programme has won the Silver Award for Community Regeneration at the iESE Public Sector Transformation Awards.

After the awards ceremony, John Thomson, cabinet member for community hubs, said: "We’re delighted that our hub programme has won this prestigious award.

“We have worked closely with local community groups to deliver successful hubs in Devizes, Calne and Malmesbury, and we are developing other community hubs.

“Local communities and groups have been at the heart of our community hub programme, and this award recognises our commitment to providing Wiltshire residents with high quality sustainable services, delivered in a convenient, accessible way, while also representing value for money.”

Community hubs offer services such as libraries, leisure activities, space for community groups to hold meetings and events, and much more – all in one place.

The Riverside Community Hub in Malmesbury opened its doors in February 2017 and quickly established itself as a ‘must-book venue’ for local groups and clubs.

It is managed by Friends of Riverside, a charitable incorporated organisation that is made up of a group of community volunteers.

Kim Power, Chair of Friends of Riverside said: “We are delighted that Wiltshire Council have won this award and really pleased to see that our work running Riverside has received such great recognition.

“We are a charity and run the Centre as volunteers for local people to use, but we do so in partnership with Wiltshire Council and with the continuing and steadfast support of Cllr. John Thomson, the Cabinet Member for Campuses”.