I’ve visited the Welcome Centre a handful of times now and every time I’ve been blown away but the dedication and effort that everyone in the building puts in. It’s because they have huge passion, but it’s also because the demand is massive. It’s bigger than ever and it’s not going to get any easier any time soon.
You can watch all about the work they do right here
The big news at the moment is that the Denby Dale Centre (DDC) and The Welcome Centre are pleased to announce an important change in the management of the HD8 Skelmanthorpe Community Pantry.
Charlie who is the Fundraising Manager is an absolute ray of sunlight – endlessly positive but also really practical, and realistic. The people who rely on The Welcome Centre are regular people, like you and me – yes there are desperate cases, but in a lot, the cost of living just means people cannot make ends meet – as Penny’s story tells us……
Penny had been working in a local supermarket, but rising rent costs meant that her wages no longer stretched far enough to cover her basic living expenses. Struggling to keep up with household bills, she turned to The Welcome Centre for help with food and fuel.
When Penny collected her food pack, our Advice, Guidance & Support team took time to listen and explore her situation. They identified that she may be eligible for Universal Credit and supported her with the application process. During the assessment, it became clear that Penny was also facing significant debts, including large fuel arrears being repaid at an unmanageable rate.
Our team connected Penny with Kirklees Citizens Advice, who were able to arrange a Debt Relief Order, giving her a pathway out of the overwhelming financial pressure.
In the meantime, The Welcome Centre continued to provide Penny with food and fuel support, ensuring she didn’t go without the essentials while her longer-term issues were resolved.
Thanks to this joined-up support, Penny is now free from the weight of debt and has been able to make a fresh start with stability and peace of mind.
There are so many ways to support – donating money is obviously huge, but adding something to your shop and dropping it off in one of the bins at the big supermarkets. Sainsbury’s, Tesco, ASDA and Morrison’s all have bins which you can add to.
It’s a little addition that can make a huge difference, you never know when it might be you that needs their help, so help while you can.
