Its 8.50 on a cold February morning as I pick the phone up to have quick chat with Claire Wall, Community Support Worker from Cross Gates Good Neighbours who runs the Cross Gates & Whinmoor Community Hub.

“I can’t be long” she says, “the food pantry opens in 10 minutes, and I’ve had a que outside since 7.45.”

We speak briefly about some training we want to arrange, and she goes off to open the doors and welcome in the growing line.

“The pandemic changed what we did here hugely” Claire tells me. “Cross Gates Good Neighbours are a Neighbourhood Network, they are part of a network of charities across Leeds set up to work with, advocate for and support older people.”

“VAL asked us if we would step forward to be a Community Care Hub, so we took referrals from the council for people of all ages in the area who needed assistance during the pandemic for whatever reason.”

CGGNs offered food parcels, Prescription collections, shopping, and befriending support. Seeing an opportunity when an old mobile phone shop became available in the local Arndale Shopping Centre, they took the bull by the horns and rented the space out.

“It’s a good space” says Claire, “but it is small for the amount of people we have accessing the hub. The front room is open plan like the old shop bit and a larger room at the back which we use as a private space & run group.  We can offer more private advocacy and signposting support.”

I ask her to list the groups that they run and support at the Hub, and Claire reels of so many,

“We have lots of groups running at the hub including: Weight Loss Management run by One You Leeds, An over 60’s Men’s group, A peer led Mind matters group, Money Buddies, Carers Leeds, Bereavement Group, Leeds Hearing & Sight Loss Services, Winter Pantry, Table Tennis, It Drop in sessions and IT One 2 One lessons, We use the space for organised events such as: White Ribbon Events, Breastfeeding Awareness days, LCP winter warmer & health events . We also host the LCP meetings and run various activities during the school holidays. We often have local and national organisations visiting to use the space to advertise/promote their services as a pop-up event.”

And of course, last October, when we put the shout out for people to come forward to be on the Warm Spaces Map CGGNs offered their space without hesitation.  As a key member of Leeds Community Anchor Network they have also worked to coordinate other local churches and community spaces to offer a range of venues and opening times.

“We have a good range of spaces on offer in the area” Claire assures us, “it’s important that we work together to offer a safe, warm and welcoming space, it’s not just about keeping people warm, it’s about making sure people have the support they require and it’s about connecting people to each other and to groups, so often it’s a way to combat loneliness too.”

Claire tells me that she has noticed a large increase in the amount of people presenting with very poor mental health. “Twelve months ago, I was making far more simple referrals/signposting for support, now we are getting people presenting with far more complex needs. We have found that having a conversation with some people quickly develops into a much longer conversation. We need to take extra time to listen to people and then provide the correct signposting, referral, or support. It is paramount that we ensure that the correct information/support is provided to the customer/s”.

“We are delighted to be working with training charity Humans Being” says Claire, “they will be delivering some sessions for us to share their expertise around supporting people with poor mental health, because we have a good network and a space to use, we can welcome people from nearby warm spaces who will also benefit from the training’.

Leeds City Council has allocated funding from the West Yorkshire Mayor’s Cost Of Living Emergency Fund to support organisations that wish to operate Warm Spaces this winter. This fund is being administered by Voluntary Action Leeds (VAL) find out more here: 

#WarmwelcomeLeeds

By Claire Graham
(VAL Project Worker)

Voluntary Action Leeds