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Warm Welcome helps fight cold and isolation

Cash MurphySouth East
News imageBBC Volunteers Sue Jamieson (left) Margaret Ashdown (right)BBC
Sue Jamieson and Margaret Ashdown help run one a one of Surrey's "warm welcome" venues

A woman who helps to run one of Surrey's Warm Welcome venues says they are important from "a social perspective, as well as helping people in need".

The facility at Dorking Christian Centre, now in its fourth year, is one of more than 80 such venues operating as part of a Surrey County Council initiative.

These spaces are intended to give people the opportunity to have a free hot drink, as well as socialise with others during the colder months.

Sue Jamieson said the social aspect was "as important as being out of the cold".

News imageSue Jamieson A man who was a regular at the Warm Space and a volunteer for the Community Fridge stood up in the background. The man is sat at a table reading the newspaper. He has graying hair, glasses and is wearing a beige jacket. The Community Fridge volunteer is wearing navy trousers, a navy jumper and a lanyard. The Community Fridge can be seen in the background.Sue Jamieson
The Warm Welcome space and Community Fridge have run along each other at Dorking Christian Centre

"It has been quite a social space over the years," she added.

An ongoing cold snap has seen snow settle in parts of the county amid sub zero temperatures.

This makes the return of the facility at Dorking Christian Centre very timely.

Jamieson said the centre's "Christian ethos" was a key motivation for creating this space.

"Our aim is to look after those who are less fortunate than ourselves," she said.

Frequently observing a "queue of people waiting outside in the cold" for the Community Fridge also held at the centre served as further motivation, Jamieson added.

News imageSue Jamieson A picture of The Christian Centre in Dorking, Surrey. The centre has two storeys and has three triangular features on the front. 'The Christian Centre' is written above the entrance door, which is white.Sue Jamieson
The Warm Welcome space at Dorking Christian Centre opened on Monday for its fourth year

This service, run by Mid Surrey Community Fridges (MSCF), aims to combat food waste by sharing surplus food for a small donation fee.

Jamieson said that historically a huge number of those accessing the Community Fridge would also come to the Warm Welcome venue.

With MSCF set to reduce the number of deliveries from six to two per week, Jamieson fears the space "won't be quite the same if the Community Fridge isn't here".

A spokesperson for MSCF said this change would create the food availability to open new mobile stops in 2026, adding it would also align Dorking with the organisation's other static hubs in Goodwyns and Leatherhead.

Hot drinks and cold buffet breakfast are on offer at the Warm Welcome space at Dorking Christian Centre, which is open Monday to Friday between 08:30 and 10:00 GMT.

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