By Hayley Beckett on 8th December 2022
Recently a number of us met on Zoom to discuss the running of warm spaces across the EBA. We focused on what we were finding encouraging and what we could learn from each other.
I was struck by the variety of of approaches being taken by churches. Each group using the resources at their disposal, but with the common ingredients being that they were providing a warm and welcoming space in which people could feel safe and find company and friendship. Refreshments and people being willing to listen were also talked about as essentials.
Some churches were opening on multiple days, while others were open just once a week. I was encouraged to hear of a church that was suggesting that parents stay after their toddler groups and to keep warm before going on the school run. They were discouraged that this was all they could offer, but they had been struck by how grateful those parents were. Some churches had thought about varying their opening times throughout the week, such as the morning, after school or for lunch or an evening meal once a week.
Some churches were getting large numbers attending and others had not had many people turn up yet. Those with larger numbers tended to be ones where existing activities had been rebranded as warm spaces, but all had noticed new people coming along.
Many churches had found sponsorship from councils and one had even had drinks provided by their local supermarket. Many churches had also found that this had been a good opportunity to partner with other churches and organisations either in a single venue or to provide greater coverage across and area.
One church had received training from Citizens Advice so that they could signpost people where help was needed. In another instance, a doctors surgery asked if they could send people to the warm space in the local Baptist church. Some had linked with foodbanks so that people could access a food parcel without having to go elsewhere and another church was partnering with Age Concern to provide volunteers to run the warm space.
As people shared, just a few weeks into their warm spaces adventure, many commented of their plans to continue even when people don’t need to be warm. The opportunity to provide people with a safe space in which they can find a welcome and some company is enough in itself.
Churches had also registered with https://www.warmwelcome.uk/ or https://warmspaces.org/ or both.
The Baptist Union has also put together safeguarding guidance for warm spaces.
In the light of all of this, I have been pondering these three things:
If you would like to find out more about running a warm space, then please get in touch with myself or one of the Regional Team and we will put you in touch with other nearby churches who you can speak with.
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