Having run a community cafe for many years, St Mark’s Road Baptist Church has long been a welcoming space in the community. While the community cafe offers lunch, the welcoming spaces funding the church received from the council allowed them to offer an evening meal completely free of charge.
Bristol mayor Marvin Rees shared a video last week on the contribution made by the 100 community venues who participated in the Welcoming Spaces scheme and the council are looking into ways in which some of the regular activities which began with the initiative can continue into the future.
The welcoming spaces initiative not only helps people to get to know each other but also is helpful for those understanding the services available, such as food banks and local debt or housing advice services. This has been the case with St Judes, a women’s only welcoming space which, alongside a free Friday lunch and food parcel, women can find out where they can get support.
READ MORE: The welcoming spaces that are helping people stay warm this winter as energy bills rise
Bristol Horn Youth Concern will continue with their free weekly meal and have managed to secure additional funding to keep it going. Many other organisations have said they feel the same way, like St Mark’s Community Café who are not ready to close their welcoming space that people have come to rely on.
The PBA Club in Shirehampton began offering a free cooked breakfast on a Wednesday due to the welcoming spaces funding but Chair Dan Clifton said that they will continue to offer the free breakfast which “gets people out who wouldn’t be able to afford to otherwise.”
In addition to the free breakfast, the community hub offers discounted meals and free school meals during the holidays. Like other community spaces, having a meal is not simply about eating for free, it gives people the opportunity to socialise and find out about services in the community.
The café manager, Lesley, says that although the welcoming spaces funding ends on March 31, they will continue to offer the additional services that they offer on a Thursday. Many other welcoming spaces will also continue beyond March, with some having secured additional funding and others looking into applying for funding to continue offering free hot meals.
On a Thursday evening, everybody is welcome to eat a free hot meal, have a hot drink and then a choice of pudding afterwards, which is often a cake or a donut. While the community café offers food at a discounted price or gives it away for free to those short of funds, the food on a Thursday evening is free for everyone and is set to continue to be that way.
In addition to the meal, the church has started offering a free laundry service which has been very helpful. One local resident came to do her washing on a Thursday after her washing machine broke down, while another used the service to save money on her electricity bill.
Lesley said: “We will continue to do what we do because we think it’s important. I have been speaking to those doing welcoming spaces across the city and think at least half want to continue. We are talking to people and sharing ideas and we’ve started to think about what it might look like in the summer months.
“I was also talking to the people here about how they could get involved with what happens here in order for it to continue for longer and they are starting to help clear tables and wash up. The main thing they keep saying is they want social interaction but we want to keep doing it completely free.
“The meal starts at 6pm but some people pop in at three or four for a coffee and a chat. Last week I was sitting with a group and they were asking about others who weren’t there that week - it’s interesting how they are starting to look out for each other."
Sarah, who lives in Lawrence Hill, had been attending a free meal in Barton Hill for a few years when she heard about the welcoming space at St Mark’s Community Café which she has been attending regularly with her friend Philip since they began the meals over five months ago.
Sarah said: “I’ve got to know everyone here, it would be really sad if they stopped doing it, I just like coming here.
Simon, who comes for a meal every week and also volunteers, said: “I just like connecting with people, that's what it’s all about.” Simon, who also helps out at the food bank, added that he is not a Christian but still feels part of the church which he has always found to be a welcoming space.
A Bristol City Council spokesperson said: “Bristol’s network of over 100 warm Welcoming Spaces has made a huge difference to so many of our residents’ lives over the winter. Our thanks go to all the community venues that put themselves forward as a space to support people and the Mayor shared a video just last week recognising their contribution and impact. We are exploring how we might help embed some of the activities and hubs into the future, and will also be hosting a thank you event for our 100 Welcoming Spaces later this spring.
“Our £4 million Community Resilience Fund will hopefully be bolstered by our recent £5 million bid to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The Mayor’s budget continues to support over 32,000 households with up to 100 per cent off their council tax bills through our £41.3m Council Tax Reduction Scheme. Likewise, the £1.3m Local Crisis Prevention Fund is also available to support people struggling to afford food, gas, electricity, school uniform, and/or household goods.”
READ NEXT:
