Lead Community Builder, Kath Leigh in Stalybridge
In a recent newsletter sent out nationally to its supporters, the Church Urban Fund (CUF) featured the excellent Transforming Lives Together (TLT) and the work it is undertaking to encourage and support local churches to run a Place of Welcome in their local communities.
A Place of Welcome is somewhere in a local neighbourhood where everyone can go to see a friendly face, enjoy a cup of tea, and have a conversation if and when they need it.
Places of Welcome can be found in venues across our diocese, and TLT works to facilitate, resource, and connect this growing network of community spaces.
Kath Leigh, who works as a Lead Community Builder for TLT, has been helping to establish a Place of Welcome at St Paul's Church, Stalybridge. She has been described by CUF as a "superhero" for her work coordinating volunteers and visitors and for organising the logistics required to open up the church as a Place of Welcome.
For its national newsletter, Kath told CUF about the widowed people in their 80s who attend for a simple chat, but leave with a sense of inclusion that often makes their week. She also spoke about the young mums that are stretched for free time but make an effort to volunteer because they know the impact Places of Welcome is having on the local community.
The Archdeacon of Macclesfield, Ian Bishop, who is also a Trustee of TLT, says: "Kath really is a superhero and deserves this recognition. My thanks go to her and to the team at Stalybridge for their commitment to supporting their local community through the Places of Welcome initiative."
To find out more about Transforming Lives Together and the work they are doing to support local venues in becoming Places of Welcome, visit the TLT website.