Places of Welcome started in Birmingham. It aims to create a network of safe places where people can connect, belong and contribute. There are now nearly 1000 venues, rapidly spreading to other villages, towns and cities across England and Wales from its West Midlands base.

One of the goals of the movement is to help build a network of places in each area, where you can make friends and meet people, and can be in any location accessible to the public, including churches, mosques, temples, community centres, housing associations, libraries and pharmacies, even community gardens!

More information can be found at www.placesofwelcome.org.uk and for local information Places of Welcome - Diocese of Lichfield (anglican.org)

Each one is open to anyone and each one follows the following values:

Place:

An accessible and hospitable building, open at the same time every week

People:

Open to everyone regardless of their circumstances or situation, and usually staffed by volunteers

Presence:

A place where people actively listen to one another

Provision:

Offering free refreshments (at least a cup of tea and a biscuit) and basic local information

Participation:

Recognises that every person coming to a Place of Welcome will bring talents, experiences and skills that they might be willing to share locally

It is these values that are the key to the whole movement and therefore these cannot be changed or adapted. Each venue agrees to stick to each value. Places of Welcome is not a franchise model and there are no charges for joining.

Places of Welcome Coordinators have the support of a Place of Welcome Facilitator, networking opportunities with other coordinators, promotion, branding and shared resources from the wider Strengthening Communities team, including training sessions and events. As a welcome gift we also offer a Places of Welcome A Frame Board, a dozen mugs, posters, leaflet templates and social media graphics.

To register, please click here Place of Welcome Registration Form (tfaforms.net)