More than 200 Welcome Spaces are now open to people in Leeds, offering a warm welcome, hot drinks, a range of activities, and a space to talk with other people.
Welcome Spaces are open until 31 March 2025 with many venues in West Leeds, including Armley Chai and Chat at Tong Road Temple in Armley, New Wortley Community Centre and The Oak Church in Stanningley.
The Welcome Spaces scheme, which began in 2022, sees council-run venues and community and faith organisations open their doors to welcome in people from their local communities. This year, more than 180 community groups and organisations, alongside all of the 37 Leeds City Council hubs and libraries, are offering a Welcome Space.
Nick Hart, Head of Customer Contact at Leeds City Council, said: “Leeds City Council hubs and libraries offer a warm, safe and welcoming space for people to sit and read, use the internet and access a range of services with free tea and coffee available this winter. Staff at all our hubs and libraries will always be on hand to provide a warm welcome and can also help visitors to find support if needed.”
The community and faith organisations have received funding from the Leeds allocation of the Department for Work and Pension’s Household Support Fund, to run their Welcome Spaces. This funding is managed and distributed by Voluntary Action Leeds, the organisation which supports the city’s voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector.
Hannah Bailey, Chief Officer at Voluntary Action Leeds, said: “Welcome Spaces are here to support local communities this winter and we are proud to be working with more than 180 community and faith organisations this year to support them as they offer this vital service. Welcome Spaces offer more than a warm welcome; like our city’s voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations do all year round, they are there to support the people of Leeds in so many ways and are at the heart of their local communities.”
For more details about Welcome Spaces in your area visit this website – you can search by your postcode to find your nearest space.