A WARM space cafe in Wellington will be able to expand in the New Year after the town council was awarded a £12,000 grant.

The council successfully applied to Somerset Community Foundation’s ‘Help Through Winter Fund’ which supports people through the colder months of the year.

It already runs a Warm Welcome Café in its Kings Arms community hub which offers a friendly space, hot drinks, light lunches, and wellbeing activities on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week of the winter.

Now, it will use the grant money to do more, starting on Monday, January 5.

The council has also invested in new kitchen equipment for the community hub to allow it to not only to deliver the Warm Welcome Café but also to support additional community activities and future projects throughout the year.

A council spokesperson said: “Everybody is welcome, no booking needed, just drop in.

“Wellington Town Council is proud to strengthen the support available in Wellington and create warm, safe, social spaces for those who need it most.

“More details will be released in due course.”

The Kings Arms community hub has since its opening in July been helping residents facing financial hardship, poor housing, social isolation, or caring responsibilities by providing a place to stay warm, connect, and receive practical help.

It offers heat, refreshments, light meals, wellbeing support, energy-saving guidance, social connection, and signposting to the ‘Help Through Winter’ offer.

Each of the three days includes themed sessions such as social groups, wellbeing activities, informal advice, and carer-focused conversations.

They are run in partnership with community groups, Somerset Carers, Village Agents, and Citizens Advice.

The town council has been rapidly building its community engagement activities through extra hours and targeted support for unpaid carers, older adults, and low-income households as part of its Wellington Connect and Cradle to Career initiatives.