Good News about Warm Welcome Wednesdays!
Update: April 2023
A brief history of LDCoS’ Warm Welcome Project 2022/23 in numbers
On 18th July 2022 at an Action Group Meeting, the idea of what became the LDCoS Warm Welcome Project was discussed by 10 members on the hottest day on record, with the UK average temperature exceeding 30 C for the first time.
Despite the sweltering heat, there was general agreement that it would be a ‘good thing’ to do as part of our mission to support vulnerable people in Lichfield District through the cost of living crisis when temperatures fell and fuel bills soared.
Thanks to grants from the Central England Co-op’s Community Dividend Fund and four supportive local Councillors, we were able to book a venue at Curborough Community Centre and began collecting donations of warm clothes and bedding.
Warm Welcome Wednesdays began on 2nd November 2022. We ran from 10.30 – 1.30 and were open to all. There was zero charge for food and drinks. During the 5 months of the project, we had 221 visits. Our highest attendance was 15, our lowest 7. Our team of 5 regular volunteers miraculously kept things going. Our age range was from 3 – 86 years. The highest Scrabble score was 367 (Margaret). The tallest tower built of bricks was 829 centimetres high. The number of Co-op carrot cakes consumed was 15 (Geoff). The greatest distance travelled weekly by a member was 12.6 x 2 miles (involving 4 changes of ‘bus). We distributed 149 warm coats donated by supporters plus countless jumpers, trousers, shoes and items of bedding – many of these at our Big GiveAway on 17th December. After 20 sessions, the final 4 donated by our generous hosts at Curborough Community Centre, we closed for the season on 22nd March 2023.
What the numbers can’t begin to describe is the fun we had, the jokes we shared and the companionship we enjoyed through a long and difficult winter. Huge thanks and appreciation to everyone involved.
November 2022 post:
Since November 2nd 2022, a team of LDCoS volunteers has been running Warm Welcome Wednesday sessions at Curborough Community Centre in North Lichfield.
Supported by the Co-op’s Community Dividend Fund and contributions from our local councillors’ Community Fund, we open every Wednesday between 10.30 & 1.30 & offer refreshments, craft activities & lively conversation in a relaxed atmosphere. The sessions are free and open to all.
And now, thanks to the generosity of Curborough Community Centre’s Trustees, we are able to run Warm Welcome Wednesdays throughout March 2023.
So, if you’re in N. Lichfield on a Wednesday morning and would enjoy a cuppa, some company or a gently competitive game of Scrabble, please come and join us.
If you’d like to join us as a volunteer, please get in touch.
You’ll all be most welcome!
Best Wishes,
Cathy