Places of Welcome - set up support for groups and churches
We’re helping to grow the network of Places of Welcome – safe, friendly spaces where everyone is invited to pop in for a cuppa, a chat, and a chance to connect with others.
In response to the growing problem of loneliness and social isolation across the UK, Places of Welcome offer a simple but powerful way for local communities to come together.
With support from the Network of Kindness, more local faith and community groups are joining the movement, offering weekly drop-ins at churches, community centres, cafés, libraries, and village halls.
Each Place of Welcome provides free refreshments, friendly faces, and a warm environment where people feel valued and included – helping to build connections and a sense of belonging.
Whether you already run a welcoming space or are thinking about starting one in the Diocese of Liverpool area, we’d love to hear from you.
To find out more about joining the Places of Welcome network – or setting up your own – please contact our Social Action Development Lead Officer, Joseph Cottrell.
Watch here to find out more about how the Friendship Cafe in Southport became a Place of Welcome a year ago, in February 2022
🎥 Watch our short film about how the Friendship Cafe in Southport became a Place of Welcome in February 2022. Run by local charity Cherish Reach and Connect, it's one of many projects supported by the Network of Kindness to launch or relaunch after the Covid pandemic.
You can join the Places of Welcome Network if you:
- Already have an existing drop-in style activity that you would like to be added to the map.
- Would like to set up a new Place of Welcome in your community.
The main criteria for becoming a Place of Welcome is a commitment to the Network’s five values:
