Find out how the Welcoming Spaces funding initiative has been creating social value for community organisations and buildings by providing somewhere warm to go for companionship and advice.

ABOUT THE WELCOMING SPACES PROGRAMME

The Welcoming Spaces programme launched in December 2023, with all 38 awards being made by February 2024. In total, just over £70k was allocated, with £50k coming from Cheshire West and Chester Council. This initiative for community buildings and groups is designed to help them provide a place where people can go to stay warm and safe, save money on energy bills and access advice and information on cost-of-living challenges.  
 
The project has supported more than 1800 people for at least six months during 2024, giving a social value of £5.40 for every £1 invested, with the key measure being a reduction in social isolation for beneficiaries. Survey data reinforces this, with 82% of beneficiaries stating they attend the Welcoming Spaces for social reasons.

EVALUATION OF SOCIAL VALUE

Read our evaluation report here to see how the Welcoming Spaces scheme delivered, and find out more about the kind of organisations that benefited in our case studies on Frodsham’s Main Street Memory Cafe and Chester’s Dial House.