Warm Welcome Hub Supporting the Community at Elmwood Avenue URC
A Warm Space has helped to unite the community at Elmwood Avenue URC, reducing isolation and bringing people together for conversation and activities.
The Church used a Small Synod Grant to purchase equipment and consumables to run the project in a safe, comfortable space and for advertising.
Tracey McNabe, Community Engagement & Outreach Worker, explained:
“The Hub is reducing isolation through engaging others in wider conversation, fun and laughter. It is providing a warm space and creating something to look forward to each week, getting others involved in the tea and toast rota, washing up, baking and setting up activities which has given them a role of being involved or just taking time to be with others.
“Our Warm Space has also been used as a community drop in for meetings while we have been open, and they have joined us in chatting and refreshments.
“Recently we have been putting on themed events as part of the promotion of the space. We also held our first Pre-Loved Children’s Clothes Sale in April which was part of an extended Warm Space activity. All donations from the sale based on a donation only basis. All donations will go to Warrington Food Bank.
“As part of our Easter Mission Outreach and linking into the Warm Space we arrived earlier to link into the school drop off time and set up a free coffee station and handed out Easter Goodie Bags to the local community, wishing everyone a Happy Easter. The bags contained Easter Card and URC Easter Leaflet, Palm Cross, easter goodies and information about Warm Welcome Space and Pre-Loved Clothes. We met some lovely people and chatted to lets of people and handed out 50 bags.”
Feedback from the Warm Welcome Hub included:
D recently brought in her album of all her cross stitch she has completed. It was great to see her connecting and really enjoying talking about her work.
We love coming and really miss it when we cannot come.
Thank you - I would not have seen anyone at all today if it was not for this.
Liked the event and support of somewhere to take grandchildren during the Christmas holiday as it was a great help.
For a surprise & 75th birthday --I would love to say a heartfelt Thank You to T, J, F and L for the lovely surprise you gave me on Friday for my Birthday. The cake was lovely as well as the company.
Many, Many Thanks
Really grateful for letting us come in to warm up and for the cuppa especially as you were just closing. (Three chaps who were cold and looking for a cuppa as they were delivering flyers in the area. It was just as I was bringing the A board in so invited them in.) They were so grateful and gave a donation, one of them was talking to Jenny and about the Bible as he had always wanted to read one. J offered one and he accepted it, and he was really grateful.
Synod Mission Funds
The Synod has set aside £75,000 a year and churches can apply for a large grant of up to £25,000 a project or, using the small grant scheme, for up to £2,500 as many times as required. There are even options for smaller amounts of around £100. Grants are for mission projects, not building projects.
Grants and Funding — URC Mersey (urcmerseysynod.org.uk)