Hope in CommunityThe Hughenden Centre, Weston-super-MareFind us
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HOPE IN COMMUNITY

About Weston Ark

A Christian charity offering practical support, partnership and a welcoming space for all.

Our Story: Moving Beyond Crisis

Weston Ark was born from a simple realization: Feeding people is vital, but it isn’t enough.

In early 2024, a group of long-term supporters of the Weston-super-Mare Foodbank came together with a new vision. We saw that while emergency food parcels keep people alive, they don't solve the underlying storms of poverty, debt, and isolation. We wanted to build a place where people could find a path from crisis back to wholeness.

In April 2025, we purchased the Hughenden Centre (formerly the Vintage Church Hall) in Hughenden Road to make that vision a reality. Today, the centre hosts a Weston-super-Mare Foodbank outlet, Ark Café and a range of community groups. We are continuing to improve the building and develop practical support for our neighbours.

What We Are Here For

Weston Ark was established with a specific dual purpose:

  1. Providing Advice & Support: To offer training and support for families and individuals living on low household incomes.

  2. Christian Witness: To enable ongoing Christian witness from the former church building.

Our desire is to work with partner organisations to reduce benefit dependency and the need for crisis interventions. We seek to offer solutions that reduce the need for emergency food and prevent people from falling back into dependence.

Our Mission: "Shalom" for Weston

We are driven by the ancient Hebrew concept of Shalom. It is often translated as "peace," but it means much more: wholeness, well-being, justice, and restoration.

Our goal is not just to patch up problems, but to help our neighbours rebuild their lives. We do this through three core pillars:

  • Relief: Hosting an outlet of Weston-super-Mare Foodbank.

  • Community: Ark Café offers friendship and a warm welcome on Thursdays, 1pm to 3pm. From 15 September 2026, Tuesday sessions bring a light bite to eat and crafts, 3pm to 5pm. Plan your visit.

  • Support: Listening, signposting and helping people connect with local support. Café volunteers completed Citizens Advice First Aid training in April 2026.

Our Faith & Values

Weston Ark is a Christian charity. Our faith is the fuel for what we do, but it is not a fence that keeps people out.

  • We are Open to All: Whether you have a faith or none, you are welcome here. We welcome partnering with people of all backgrounds who seek to challenge the impact of poverty in our community.

  • We are Relational: We believe poverty is often rooted in a lack of support networks. We exist to be that network.

  • We are Professional: We value excellence in our governance, safety, and systems because the people we serve deserve the best.

The Team

We are a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) led by a Board of Trustees with extensive private sector and non-profit business experience, including working with disadvantaged groups at a national and local level.

The Board of Trustees:

  • Clive Bodley (Chair)

  • Mary Jeremy

  • Paul Salmons

  • Emma Wotton

  • Diana Thomas

Operational Leads:

  • Centre Manager: Matt Luft

  • Ark Café Team Leader: Lin Thomas (volunteer)

  • Systems & Technology: George Bradley (volunteer)

Find out more about the Weston Ark Team here: Meet the Team
 

Our Partners

We know we can't do this alone. We are proud to partner with:

  • Weston-super-Mare Foodbank (Our Anchor Tenant)

  • Asda Foundation, Quartet Community Foundation, Weston Town Council, Benefact Trust and Screwfix Foundation (our generous funders)

Life at the Centre

The Hughenden Centre is home to activity throughout the week, including the Scout Group, church groups and a dance academy. The Foodbank outlet operates alongside Thursday’s café. Weston Prophetic Worship hires the centre for monthly worship evenings.

Men’s Shed members meet at Ark Café on the second and fourth Thursdays while plans for their longer-term space develop. Contact us for information about joining them.

We are exploring a future food pantry. This service is not yet open. Purple Sheep Pantry, which previously used the centre, closed earlier in 2026.

See what’s on at the Hughenden Centre.

Contact Us