Places Of Welcome

Local community groups providing their neighbourhoods with places where all people feel safe to connect, belong and contribute.

Places of Welcome is a growing network of open spaces, providing people with the community they need.
And we’d love you to join in.

With over 600 across England, each Place of Welcome is unique but all provide a place for people to connect with one another, find belonging and offer gifts and skills that interest them.

Places of Welcome take place in a variety of different venues including churches, community centres, libraries, mosques, temples and other community group buildings across England.

POFW web home

Find a venue

Over 600 venues across England

Join the network

Find out how to register your venue

In action

Find out what it means to run or join a Place of Welcome from the people involved

What do Places of Welcome do?

Place: Create an accessible and hospitable space (the same time and place each week)

People: Open to everyone regardless of their circumstances and staffed by volunteers

Presence: A place where people actively listen to one another

Provision: Offering free refreshments and vital local information

Participation: Recognise that every person coming to a Place of Welcome could bring talents, experiences & skills that offer value to others

With our support, you could bring out the best in your community.

Places of Welcome 5 Ps web 1

Church Urban Fund is a national charity working with local leaders, churches and other faith groups all over England. Our local partners are committed to serving and strengthening the community where they live.

We are working to build just and flourishing communities so that everyone across England can access support when they need it most. Read on to learn about our vision, mission, and impact.

CUF's resources are used to support local churches and the people they serve.

Whether that's providing funding and training to help churches welcome refugees, producing resources such as Growing Good, funding vital research and tools that lead to new ways of tackling poverty and isolation, or helping us to grow the Places of Welcome network and offer safe spaces across the country - our generous supporters are helping to transform local communities across England.

Our impact

Read our latest report showing how, with your support, we are making progress towards our strategic objectives.

How we work

We work with and invest in people, churches and community groups to tackle urgent issues, provide life-changing support and raise money. Explore our key areas of focus.

Donate now

Help us in supporting local communities to become better and fairer places to live.

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