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When R first came to the Warm Hub at St Mary’s Church East Molesey, he rarely left the house. After having a stroke, he had become increasingly isolated and had done little outside the home since 2020.
He initially accompanied his wife to the Knit & Natter group while work was being carried out at their home. There, M started chatting to him.
R was quiet and reserved at first. He told M he had no interests and that, since his stroke, there was little he could do apart from read. But M took the time to get to know him and gradually gained his trust. Before long, they were playing board games together while R’s wife joined Knit & Natter.
Today, R comes to the hub on his own for a second day each week, simply to play board games with M. He has also agreed to help her set up a board games group.
M’s kindness and patience have helped R grow in confidence. He now feels able to leave the house without his wife, something he had not done before, giving her more freedom too. He has also joined a stroke support group, having previously refused to do so, and now chats freely and even jokes about his stroke.
Instead of being isolated at home, R is now engaging with other people and building connections within his community.
R and M’s friendship is just one example of the many connections that have formed at the Warm Hub. What began with a simple conversation and a board game has helped R regain the confidence to leave the house, meet new people and become more involved in his community.
St Mary’s Church Warm Welcome Space was shortlisted for the Unlikely Friendships category of the Warm Welcome Awards in June 2026.
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