Wellington Baptist Church has been awarded a £3,000 grant to help support its Warm Places initiative.

The church in South Street has for the past four years opened its doors every Thursday from 9.30am to 7pm October to March and from 11.30am to 2pm March to October to offer warmth, shelter and food for people in the community looking for support from the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Members of Wellington Town Council’s policy and finance committee were quick to support a grant application from the church wanting financial help to fund food, catering and other essential supplies.

Cllr Andy Govier, speaking at the committee’s meeting on October 12, said: “I would like to fully support this application. The group achieves exactly what it sets out to do – providing cooked meals at lunch time and evening during the winter.

“The project also helps vulnerable people and I think the cost of living crisis is still going on and the benefits of it go beyond providing a meal.”

Cllr John Thorne added: “I completely support what Andy has said. We started this thinking it would be a temporary thing, but as far as I can see I think the cost of living crisis is getting worse.”

A Warm Place spokesman said: “All across the UK cost of living rises are causing households to struggle with paying bills, heating homes and eating well.

“Wellington Warm Place is a weekly initiative led by Wellington Baptist Church, with the support of volunteers and the local council, aiming to provide a safe, warm place for people and families to come together, share a meal and support each other.

“People are most welcome to come along and just sit and be in a warm place, maybe meet and interact with others, or have a tea or coffee.

“We provide hot and cold drinks, snacks, meals, toiletries basket, newspapers and internet access.

“Warm Place has been set up with the simple aim of showing love to the community of Wellington.”

If anyone wants further information please go to www.wellywarmplace.co.uk or you can email [email protected] or call the church office on 01823-663713.