Courtyard transformation at Sutton Warm Welcome

01 August, 2024

A grant of £1,000 from City Health Care Partnership’s Foundation charity has helped to transform a concrete courtyard into a haven of colour and comfort.

The Warm Welcome group at Sutton Methodist Church offer a warm, comfortable and very welcoming space for anyone who wants to drop in for a chat and a slice of toast and homemade marmalade. They are open twice a week in summer and add on a third day in winter, with crafts, games and conversation on offer.

Steve is one of the organisers and explains why they applied for a grant from the Foundation. “The courtyard was just a dull, concrete space and we felt we could do so much more with it. We got some funding from Hull City Council and from the church but the donation from CHCP was the largest and meant we could go ahead with the project.

“We bought garden furniture and planters so we can sit outside and it’s such a pleasant space to enjoy. Our fantastic volunteers look after it and it’s really blooming. When we’re sitting outside people passing by just feel they can come in and join us for a brew and a chat.”

“We’ve got a defibrillator and Humberside Fire and Rescue gave us some brilliant first aid training,” says Elaine, another volunteer. The police and our ward councillors come along regularly to talk to guests about anything any issues that might be bothering them and to update us on what’s happening in Sutton.”

Warm Welcome was set up to provide a warm space in winter for anyone who needed it but it’s grown since then when it became clear that there were a lot of people feeling lonely and isolated who wanted somewhere to go for company. “We don’t charge anything but some people want to contribute, so we’ve got a donations box,” explains Steve.

“We’ve got a craft table and that’s very popular,” says Pauline, who came along when the group was first set up and is now a volunteer (and marmalade maker). “We do knitting, crochet and things like that. And we’ve got a dominoes board that one of our guests made.

“I was a bit cautious to start with but now it feels like a family. I feel I belong.”

To find out more about Sutton Methodist Warm Welcome, go to www.suttonmethodist.org.uk/warm-welcome/. For information about CHCP Foundation and how to apply for a grant, go to www.chcpcic.org.uk/chcp-services/chcp-foundation.