In 2020, Julie Green set up the Covid Crisis Project, where a group of volunteers delivered hot meals to those who needed them. She realised, even as lockdown lifted, that many people were struggling with loneliness.
This is when Bless Community Support was formed, initially running out of a local library. We donated office furniture to help the group get started and they began to offer a community space to help people make friends, find new hobbies and take care of their mental health.
When the library wanted the space back, the future of the group seemed unsure. Gary Lindley, our Commercial Property and Acquisition Manager, suggested they consider an empty unit, managed by WDH, in Hemsworth.
Julie worked with Lorraine Sharpe, our Property Management Officer, to get started. Demand to join quickly increased and the group outgrew their space. After fearing they would need to start turning people away, Lorraine suggested taking on a second unit next door and with our support, the group expanded to provide a new meditation area.
This unit was previously a fish and chip shop, and the group worked hard to fully refit it as a community space where people could meet for a warm drink, a chat or to join one of the free groups on offer. The group now supports almost 200 people a week!
Julie Green, Founder of Bless Community Support, said: “We’ve really valued WDH always being in our corner from the start. I’m not sure where the group would be now without the support of Lorraine and Gary.
“We really love what we do at Bless Community Support. It is heartwarming to see people overcome their fears, for example not wanting to leave the house, and start making friends and growing confidence here. It’s amazing how much we’ve grown as we now run a full programme of groups for free and recently started opening four days a week. We’re looking forward to continuing to serve the local community and what the future has in store!”
Gary Lindley, Commercial Property and Acquisitions Manager at WDH, added: “It has been great to see Bless Community Support go from strength to strength. We want to support all the businesses and charities that work in our units to be the best they can be. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for the group.”
Find out more about Bless Community Support on their website.