POSTED: 1/05/2020
We’ve given a much-needed cash donation to The Welcome Community Centre, based in the heart of the Longridge and Shaw Heath neighbourhoods in Knutsford.
Our history with The Welcome dates back many years and we have been a long-standing partner of the work they do within the local community. Our Head of Neighbourhoods GM South, Anila Khalid, has been on their Board since July 2017 and has helped them to thrive and grow to offer valuable support to all members of the local community.
In 2019 Sarah Riley, who had worked at Great Places for over 15 years, took up the role of the Centre Manager and has continued to work closely with Anila and the GM South Neighbourhoods team to provide vital services to our customers. Using The Welcome as a landing pad has enabled us to be at the heart of the neighbourhood and easily accessible to our residents.
The community centre provides a wide range of activities, services and support to residents and has increased its efforts over the last month to help those most in need during the Coronavirus crisis.
Over the last month Sarah, along with an army of local volunteers, has established an emergency food distribution centre, in partnership with Hope Central Food Bank, to meet the increased demand for food in the community. They have distributed family food parcels and launched a free hot lunch delivery service for those who are unable to cook for themselves, due to ill health or mobility issues.
Work at the Centre has not stopped on the day to day support available, they have adapted to the new way of working and are still providing online and telephone counselling for adults, along with online youth activities and sessions.
As an organisation, we are committed to doing all that we can to help customers affected during this pandemic and we know our partnerships are even more important during times like these. The money donated will go some way to enable The Welcome to help the residents in the neighbourhood with the help they need, at a time when they need it most.
