Beating loneliness and the winter chill: Warm Welcome spaces bring comfort and connection across Somerset.
“Coming here gives me friendly company… John, who attends the Warm Welcome at the Crispin Community Centre in Street, explains.
He continues, it’s a privilege that Street has this facility. 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.”
This is Warm Welcome Week and with another cold snap forecast for Somerset, warm spaces offer a comfortable place to sit, enjoy a hot drink and spend time with others in a friendly, inclusive environment. They are open to all, and people visit for a variety of reasons.
For many, it’s about more than just warmth, it’s a chance to build friendships, connections and a sense of belonging.
Michaela, who runs Crispin Community Centre, explains why their space attracts many 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.
“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, explains: “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.”
To find a Warm Welcome space near you, visit the Warm Welcome Somerset map.
Community venues can sign up to join the Warm Welcome map and access support from Spark Somerset to help them offer a Warm Welcome space in their area. Find out more here.
