“COMING here gives me friendly company.”
Those were the words of John, a regular visitor to the Warm Welcome, held at the Crispin Community Centre, in Street, which opens daily offering tea, coffee and a hot meal, as well as a weekly exercise class for anyone who wants to take part.
John is one of a number of people who frequent the sessions, and said it helped him meet people.
“It’s a privilege that Street has this facility,” he went on. “I have met new people here and now we go on day trips together. I really enjoy chatting to all the people that come in for coffee.”
January 19 to 25 was Warm Welcome Week across the UK, celebrating initiatives that offer people somewhere to warm up and to get something to eat and drink, as the UK continues to battle a cost-of-living crisis.
READ MORE: Health & Wellbeing news from your Somerset Leveller
Michaela Edmunds, who runs Crispin Community Centre, said the space attracts people from the town and surrounding areas.
“We have a host of wonderful volunteers who happily give their time to make food, drinks and make everyone feel welcome and valued,” she said.
“The outcome is truly heart-warming, a room full of people chatting and enjoying something hot to eat or drink on a cold wet day, leaving brighter than when they arrived means the world to everyone involved.
“Spaces like these enhance people’s physical and mental wellbeing during long, lonely winters.”
Laura Bazley, who oversees Warm Welcome for Spark Somerset, added: “We believe everyone deserves to feel warm, welcomed and connected – especially during the colder months.
“These spaces are about so much more than warmth; they’re about kindness, community and support. They help ensure no one has to feel isolated, providing a lifeline to many, and are often made possible thanks to dedicated volunteers.”
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