Help Keep Skipton’s Community Wellbeing Hub & Cafe Open into 2025!
Our charity, Skipton Step Into Action (SSIA), has been running the Community Wellbeing Hub & Cafe since 2022, offering a safe, warm, and welcoming space for people in our community who need it most. It’s a place where friendships are made, and for some, it’s the only time in their week they share a hot meal with others.
However, due to unexpected funding cuts, we are facing the reality of having to reduce our hours come October 2024. We need your help to raise £8,000 to keep our doors open while we work on securing long-term funding.
Why is the Wellbeing Hub so important?
Our Community Wellbeing Hub & Cafe is not only vital to the people who come, but it’s also the only out-of-hours provision available for adults in the whole of Craven District, North Yorkshire. This makes it a unique and essential service for those who can’t access help or companionship elsewhere during evenings or weekends.
For many, the Community Wellbeing Hub & Cafe is a lifeline. It’s more than just a place to grab a cup of tea. Here, people find acceptance, support, and a community that looks out for one another. Here’s what some of our friends who use our service say:
“I feel wanted, needed, and safe.”
“It gives me structure and a safe place to not be okay. I really enjoy the activities and having a hot meal. Thank you.”
“If the cafe wasn’t here, I would feel lonely and have nowhere to go.”
The cafe is especially important for those who are isolated, lonely, or experiencing difficult times in their lives. For some, it’s the highlight of their week.
Helen’s Story: A Journey of Comfort and Contribution
One of our regular visitors, Helen, began attending the Wellbeing Hub & Cafe during a particularly difficult time in her life. For Helen, the café became a source of comfort and connection.
“I still have bad days,” Helen shares, “sometimes I dip… but I always know I’ve got this group. It’s nice to come and meet new people and talk to them, about anything really, whether it’s because you’re feeling down, or because you’ve got something nice and happy to share.”
Over time, Helen’s involvement grew, and she became a volunteer, sharing her love for crafting with others. Now, she occasionally leads crafting sessions, spreading joy to the group through her creativity and passion. Helen’s story is a testament to the power of community—she not only receives support but has found a way to give back and help others.
What will your donation support?
From 1st October, we plan to keep the service running, but with reduced hours. Your donation will help us cover essential costs for:
- Staffing
- Venue hire
- Activities
- Providing hot meals for our visitors (for some, the only hot meal of the week)
Without your support, we may struggle to provide the warmth and community that so many have come to depend on. As we head into winter and Christmas, this service becomes even more vital. The colder months can be especially difficult for those feeling isolated, and for many, the Wellbeing Hub & Cafe is the only place they can go for warmth, companionship, and a hot meal. With your help, we can ensure no one is left alone this winter.
We’re incredibly fortunate to partner with Pioneer Projects, who offer regular key worker support and help us bring creativity into the Hub, but we need the community’s help to ensure we can keep the Hub & Cafe running through the winter.
How can you help?
Your generosity will allow us to keep offering a hot meal, a safe space, and a sense of community for the people of Skipton. Whether you can spare £5 or £50, every donation makes a difference and gets us one step closer to ensuring the Wellbeing Hub & Cafe continues its invaluable work.
As we head into winter and the holiday season, this service becomes even more vital. The colder months can be especially difficult for those feeling isolated, and for many, the Wellbeing Hub & Cafe is the only place they can go for warmth, companionship, and a hot meal. With your help, we can ensure no one is left alone this winter.
If you have a connection to Skipton, if you know someone who uses our service, or if you just believe in supporting local communities, please donate today. With your help we can keep the Hub and Cafe open whilst we pursue alternative funding. Let’s make sure no one feels alone or forgotten.
Thank you for your kindness and support! 💛