Warm welcome volunteers celebrate success
Forty warm welcome group leaders and volunteers gathered at the George Ward Centre, Barwell recently to celebrate achievements and share ideas, challenges and best practice at the third annual event.
The Borough Council were joined by representatives from the Rural Community Council, Leicestershire County Council, and Leicestershire Police – with 12 information stalls present in all.
During October 2025 and March 2026, warm welcome groups and venues across Hinckley and Bosworth welcomed more than 25,000 individuals and distributed more than £55,000 in grants through UK Shared Prosperity Funding.
There were 138 warm welcome sessions every week; 6,396 households received support and 339 households took up energy efficiency measures.
Warm welcome venues provide community spaces that are safe, warm, and welcoming, where people can enjoy a hot drink, a friendly conversation, and sometimes a hot meal. They play an important role in reducing isolation by helping people to connect with each other, while also providing a way to connect with the Borough Council and a range of support agencies. Most groups continue all year round as part of the Community Warm Welcome network.
At 45 venues, 478 volunteers gave more than 20,000 hours of their time to the warm welcome scheme.
Cllr Michael Mullaney, Executive Member for Community Safety, who opened the event, said: “Thank you to all the volunteers and leaders for their effort and dedication to such a fantastic scheme.
“Warm welcome groups are about much more than warmth and refreshments. They are about dignity, inclusion, and connection. They provide opportunities for people to come together, to feel less isolated, and to regain a sense of belonging within their community.”
Find one of 67 warm welcome venues near you: A warm welcome to the community
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