Political opinion: Victoria Collins MP calls for "hobby hubs" in Hertfordshire to tackle loneliness
Local Liberal Democrat MP Victoria Collins has called for “hobby hubs” to be set up in Harpenden & Berkhamsted constituency, revitalising libraries, community centres and pubs into spaces where residents can more easily meet and connect.
The proposal would breathe new life into local high streets while tackling the growing crisis of loneliness and isolation across Harpenden, Berkhamsted, Tring and surrounding villages.
House of Commons Library research shows that since 2015, 498 libraries and leisure centres have closed across the country. Locally in Hertfordshire, residents have felt the impact of these closures, leaving many with no choice but to practice their hobbies at home or seek interaction solely online.
And now new data reveals that the average person spends less than half the time on hobbies compared to four years ago, falling from 353 hours per year in 2020 to just 147 hours in 2024. Victoria and the Liberal Democrats have warned that a “crisis of connection” is gripping the UK, worsened by the steady loss of local community infrastructure.
Under the Liberal Democrat plan for “hobby hubs,” existing spaces such as libraries, community centres and pubs would be able to access grant funding to host regular hobby groups. Pots of funding would be made available for shared resources such as sewing machines, cameras, musical instruments and board games, reducing the financial barriers to participation. The party would also allow GPs to ‘prescribe’ participation in Hobby Hubs to patients at risk of isolation, integrating these hubs into local health and community strategies.
Victoria said: “For too long, our communities have been losing their bonds. We are facing a silent epidemic of loneliness.
“Community centers and libraries are the backbone of our community. 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. Whether it’s photography, knitting, music or board games, these shared interests bring people out of isolation and back into community life.
“That’s why I’m calling for Hobby Hubs to be set up across Harpenden, Berkhamsted, Tring and our villages: practical, local spaces where people can connect, create and belong once again.”