Feeling the laughter at Sutton Methodist Church Warm Welcome Space

We were thrilled to welcome Sutton Methodist Church Warm Welcome Space as one of our Champion Spaces. The space is open two morning a week, supporting around 30 guests every week.

Steve and a team of dedicated volunteers developed the space in response to the cost-of-living crisis back in 2022. That’s when it all started. To begin with, they thought it would be a short-term emergency space to support people impacted by the energy crisis, but it soon blossomed into a thriving hub.

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“It was clear that people were coming because they were lonely, so we made a decision to carry on through the first summer. We haven’t stopped since!”, says Steve, joint lead  for Sutton Methodist Church Warm Welcome Space.

Kindness and respect‍
Everyone is welcomed and treated with kindness and respect. It’s a Warm Welcome Space filled with joy and laughter. Guests come from all walks of life and enjoy time together, chatting, crafting, doing jigsaws, playing draughts, and so much more. One volunteer is gifted in crafting and set up a crafting table, inspiring others in making gifts for the local hospice, including knitted hearts and bears.

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One guest shared a bittersweet reflection, telling the team that he loves coming to the Warm Welcome Space as he’s “treated like a human."
The team believes in co-production, asking guests how they want to use the space. Responding to guests, Sutton Methodist Church is seeking funding for garden furniture, benches, and planters so everyone can enjoy the fresh air together.

Celebrating our 2000th guest
The team of volunteers monitor guest attendance, so much so that they were able to celebrate their 2000th guest during 2025. Monica enjoyed a special celebration moment, and the Church Minister presented Monica with a card and gift. The team also realised they had welcomed over 5000 guests since beginning in 2022.

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Getting ready for Warm Welcome Week‍
The team started making plans for Warm Welcome Week back in November 2025. Everyone got involved making and colouring decorations, including the local police. Julie and Sue, two volunteers, created some splendid displays, and Julie produced some amazingly bright hats for the team. Everyone embraced the idea of wearing bright and colourful clothing.

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Sharing the Warmth‍
It was Sutton Methodist Church’s first Warm Welcome Week, but they embraced wholeheartedly. They celebrated it with two dedicated linked sessions with buffets. They also connected with other Warm Welcome Spaces, inviting them in to discuss and identify what we all do and to share ideas. They hosted an event, called ‘Sharing the Warmth’. Each organisation gave a presentation on their Warm Welcome Space, generating lots of positive input, questions and feedback from around the tables. It was agreed the event was certainly a success, indicated by the comments in their guest book.

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After conversations within the team, they agreed to acknowledge the end of Warm Welcome Week by embedding the essence of the week in their church service on the 25th of January. The body of the message was offering support and helping people, sharing kindness, friendship, and equality. They held a café-style church service beginning with a hot drink and toast to continue the Warm Welcome theme in the service.

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Steve added:

“Feedback on our first Warm Welcome Week has been uplifting and inspiring. We have been pleased with the results, and the whole team and the guests have had a tremendous time and enjoyed the experience. We are all looking forward to Warm Welcome Week 2027”.

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