CARE Welcomes His Majesty King Charles III to The CARE Hub, a Community Space Reimagined by Sanderson Design Group
CARE (Christian Action & Resource Enterprise) is honoured that His Majesty The King visited The CARE Hub community space at 86–88 Victoria Street today, as part of a visit to Grimsby to meet the people working together to build a stronger future for the town.
This visit recognises CARE’s commitment and the impact of the work taking place at the Hub, a free community drop-in centre in the heart of Grimsby, sensitively designed as a safe and welcoming environment where people come for community, friendship and support, and for help with housing, crisis, and rebuilding their lives.
The King was welcomed into the public living room by CARE CEO, Anne Bickerstaffe, and spent time sitting and talking with some of the people from our community who’ve been visiting the Hub for support since opening the doors in January 2026.
This unique home-like environment offers a safe space, dignity and comfort to those who need it most. One of the most poignant moments was the one-to-one The King shared with a young man who walked in off the street from a very hostile situation on the day the Hub opened. Through ongoing support from CARE and his determination to create a better future for his family, he now has a home, a part-time job and is building a more stable future for himself and his young son.
Reflecting on his conversations with The King, Liam Atkinson said:
“I can’t believe it! Meeting The King was something my grandmother had always wished for, and here I am! When I approached CARE, they welcomed me in with open arms and never let me down. I feel like I am a human being and that I matter. I will always be thankful for CARE and all they do. They have quite literally changed my life.”
During a tour around the office, The King met CARE’s founder, David Robinson, the trustees, and the wonderful team of staff and volunteers who work hard every day to provide practical help and one-to-one intensive support to those facing the most complex challenges.
We shared the renovation plans for the next phases of work with His Majesty. As demand for services continues to rise, CARE are expanding into the second and third floors to enable more people to access support consistently and provide a range of community activities.
The King also met the interior design team who helped to transform this former derelict bank building into a welcoming and nurturing environment very different from typical services. He was introduced to interior designer Scott Maddux, Lisa Montague, CEO of Sanderson Design Group, Claire Vallis, Design Director at Sanderson Design Group, and architect Alex Smith.
To commemorate the visit, The King unveiled a plaque behind a curtain made from one of their favourite Morris & Co. designs, Indian Flock Velvet, before leaving for a walkabout outside.
Anne Bickerstaffe, CEO of CARE, said:
“We designed the CARE Hub with a clear vision – to restore dignity, hope and connection to those who need it most within our local community. We took such care over the design because spaces speak to people before any conversation begins. When a place feels calm, warm and thoughtfully designed, it tells you that you’re safe here, that you can pause, sit, and be yourself. And when you make it beautiful, it says to people that they matter.”
In Grimsby, unemployment, domestic abuse, substance use, homelessness, and crime remain high. Many people tell CARE they have been judged, spoken down to, or ignored by services, and have stopped trusting that anyone will help, so they’re left trying to manage multiple challenges on their own.
CARE provides immediate, walk-in access to practical support without referral. Every day, 80 to 100 people come through the doors. Some have been sleeping rough the night before. Others are facing eviction, leaving hospital or prison with nowhere to go, or trying to manage debt, addiction, or poor mental health without support. Many arrive at breaking point, unsure where to turn next.
The Hub is quickly becoming a sanctuary for the local community. Visitors have described it feeling like “a boutique hotel” or “a stately home”. One man with severe social anxiety and agoraphobia, who struggles to leave the house, told us:
“I don’t know what you’ve done with the lighting and wallpaper, but it makes me feel better.”
They are already seeing how this beautiful environment is playing a big part in transforming people’s lives. Having somewhere safe and consistent to come each day, where they’re known and treated with respect, they begin to move forward. They engage, accept support, and start to rebuild confidence and stability in their lives.
Some visitors have a history of violence or drug use and have been banned from other services, but they behave differently at the Hub. They are kind, caring, friendly and helpful, washing up and even donating money. Others have described improvements in their mental health and reduced substance use since attending the Hub.
Already CARE are seeing people move into accommodation who had previously been refused elsewhere. Others are stabilising after a period of crisis, and some are now volunteering with us at the Hub so they can help others.
Anne Bickerstaffe, CEO of CARE, said:
“We are deeply grateful that His Majesty The King took the time to visit the Hub, to see our work and hear about our future ambitions. It was a privilege to introduce The King to some of the people from our local community who are steadily rebuilding their lives – we know how much this special visit means to each of them.
“There’s an increasing feeling of belonging and family at the Hub, as we continue to build solid relationships across the whole community. To receive a visit from His Majesty The King was such an honour and a moment of great pride for us all and will be remembered by our community for years to come.”
The King’s visit to Grimsby was arranged by Our Future, a collective of local organisations and institutions with a shared ambition for the people of Grimsby to prosper.
CARE is proud to be working closely with Emily Bolton, Founder of Our Future, and in working groups with other local leaders and residents across North East Lincolnshire as part of the Grimsby Together initiative to help shape the future of our town.
After meeting some of Grimsby’s residents, The King gathered with community leaders, including CARE’s CEO, Anne Bickerstaffe, at Blundell Park, home of Grimsby Town Football Club, to hear about five ambitious ideas being explored for the future of the town, including housing, building community leadership and urban greening.
The King also visited the Horizon Youth Zone, a charity providing a safe, inspiring place for young people to spend their leisure time, located across the street from the CARE Hub in Grimsby town centre.
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