DEDICATED volunteers in Northwich have been helping to tackle loneliness in their community.
St Helen's Church has been running its Place of Welcome initiative for more than three years and now routinely attracts more than 30 people each week.
Every Thursday, the team of volunteers welcome members of the community for a conversation over a cup of tea and a bowl of soup.
The initiative was launched to help people reconnect with the community after many of their traditional social interactions were restricted during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Volunteer church warden Gordon Atkinson, who is one of the organisers, said: "There’s a broad range of people, from all sorts of backgrounds, and they all come together and just share.
"It’s really lovely. It’s about welcoming the community to get together and share, and help to build social capital and to help reduce loneliness.”
The church opens its doors to a wide range of people, from those in their 20s to a 94-year-old man who recently started attending.
St Helen’s is part of a nationwide network of more than 700 venues which run Place of Welcome events each week.
A photograph from the event recently came third place in a Cheshire Community Foundation photography competition, which won them a prize of £250.
“The £250 is very, very welcome to help it keep going,” said Gordon.
The initiative receives partial funding from small charity grants, but any extra money is welcome to help run the event.
Gordon added: “Providing this extra event would be very difficult for the church without those small grants.
"Particularly in winter, the heating costs are crippling. It costs the church nearly £40 an hour to heat and light the building in winter."
The event is always open to anyone who wants to go each week, regardless of religion.
Gordon added: “We would welcome people to come along on a Thursday and get involved in whatever way is appropriate for them.”
Volunteers are always welcome at the event, as are donations.
The Place of Welcome event takes place each Thursday from 11am.
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