Edward Hain Centre Unveils New Free Services: What’s Happening in St. Ives?

The Edward Hain Centre for Health & Wellbeing in St. Ives has entered 2025 with a range of new offerings aimed at improving community health and wellness. Five brand-new services are now available, alongside two popular activities carried over from last year.

Here’s what you need to know about the free services and how they’re shaping the future of the Centre.

New Services for 2025

The Centre has introduced five new services this year, catering to a wide range of community needs. These include:

• Mindfulness Meditation: A 6-week series that anyone can join at any time.
• Step into Wellness: A 7-week course starting in February.
• Yoga Over 50: A 6-week class also kicking off in February.
• Macmillan Support Group: A monthly gathering beginning next month for those impacted by cancer.
• Healthy Cornwall’s Stop Smoking Support: Available year-round.

A Growing Team and Expanded Vision

Since opening, Sharron Goldingay has overseen every aspect of the Centre’s development. Last autumn, the addition of two staff members – funded by grants from Volunteer Cornwall and the Community Levelling Up Partnership – has allowed Sharron to focus on expanding the Centre’s services.

“It feels as though the Centre is really coming into its own,” Sharron said. “The vision was always to provide essential health services to the community, and these represent another big step towards our ultimate goals.”

Community Favourites Continue

Two beloved activities from 2024 are continuing:

• NHS Pain Café: A monthly meeting for those dealing with chronic pain.
• Knit & Natter: A weekly group run by the Friends of the Edward Hain Centre. Known for its welcoming atmosphere, this group invites anyone to join – knitting experience optional.

Donna Trudgeon, chair of the Friends, shared, “Several of the Friends are now Knit & Natter regulars. It’s a really fun gathering. Anyone can join – including non-knitters. There’s always someone there to help.”

The Friends of the Edward Hain Centre played a vital role in purchasing the building, contributing 60% of the funds in their previous incarnation as the Friends of the former hospital. Their fundraising efforts continue to support the Centre’s mortgage payments and running costs.

Private Health and Fitness Options

In addition to free services, the Centre now hosts Penwith Ear Care, its first full-time health provider. Bookings can be made privately with her.

Privately-run Iyengar yoga classes are also available, with a focus on proper alignment for health benefits. Classes cost £10.

Continuing the Legacy of the Edward Hain Centre

The Centre has come a long way since the closure of the Edward Hain Hospital wards in 2016. Despite ongoing renovations, it is steadily fulfilling its mission to bring essential health and wellbeing services back to the heart of St. Ives.

For detailed information about all services, including booking links, visit the Edward Hain Centre’s website. Details can be found on the homepage or under the ‘Latest News’ section.

2025 looks set to be a year of growth and progress for the Edward Hain Centre – and for the St. Ives community it serves.

Photo: L-R: Kerrie Cox, Office Administrator; Laura Evans, Community Hub Officer and Volunteer Co-ordinator; Sharron Goldingay, manager; and everyone’s favorite help-hound, Audrey.