Report to the Annual General Meeting of Churches Together in Lichfield Wednesday, 18th June 2025
Places of Welcome is a growing national network of free, weekly community drop ins, run by volunteers. They are run by local community groups who want everyone in their neighbourhood to have a place to go for a friendly face, a cup of tea and a conversation if and when they need it. There are 800+ groups nationally.
In the Diocese of Lichfield overall (encompassing The Black Country, Staffordshire, Stoke-On-Trent and northern Shropshire), we currently have a total of 219 Places of Welcome. In Lichfield District, there are 15, which are:
• 'The Vine' Community Cafe, Handsacre Methodist Church, Lichfield Road, Handsacre, Rugeley, WS15 4DE
• The Drop Inn, St John's Community Church, High St, Burntwood, WS7 1LR
• Martin Heath Hall, Christ Church, Christ Church Lane, Lichfield, WS13 8AY
• Curborough Community Centre (Lichfield Cares Good Neighbour Scheme), Reynolds Close, Lichfield, WS13 7NY
• Wade Street Church, Frog Lane entrance, Lichfield, WS13 6QH
• Curborough Community Centre (volunteers from St Chad's Church), Reynolds Close, Lichfield, WS13 7NY • Lichfield Library, Market Square, Lichfield, WS13 6LG
• Beacon Community Church, 7 Bridge Cross Road, Burntwood, WS7 2BU
• Burntwood Library, Sankey's Corner, Bridge Cross Road, Burntwood, WS7 2BX
• Wednesday Welcome at St Stephen's Church, Church Lane, Fradley, Lichfield, WS13 8NL • "Craft & Chat", Curborough Community Centre (Lichfield Cares Good Neighbour Scheme), Reynolds Close, Lichfield, WS13 7NY
• St Anne's Church "Space of Welcome", Church Street, Chasetown, Burntwood, WS7 3QL • Lunch Club, Life Church, Netherstowe, Lichfield, WS13 6TS
• The Lichfield Garrick Café Bar, Castle Dyke, Lichfield, WS13 6HR
• Holy Cross Catholic Parish Church, Chapel Lane, Lichfield, WS14 9DX
At national level, Places of Welcome are supported by the Church Urban Fund (CUF), including the approval of new registrations and management of the www.placesofwelcome.org.uk website. Locally, Carrie Blount and Lesley Bovington, both members of the Diocese of Lichfield’s Strengthening Communities team, provide support, and their colleague, Emma Smith manages the team’s website content, including at Places of Welcome - Diocese of Lichfield.
The Lichfield District network has continued to thrive in 2024/2025, with activities including celebrating the growth of our diocesan network to 200 and marking the 10th anniversary of the network nationally. Our Places of Welcome continue to connect strongly with other local organisations, services and providers, to ensure that they can inform and help community members in the best possible way, many of whom are amongst our most vulnerable and isolated residents.
Whilst all Places of Welcome are universally welcoming, each is also unique in their own connections. Here, these include: the Lichfield Legends (volunteer litter pickers), the Pathway Project (domestic abuse charity), community art, mental health support, gardening, local history, crafting and knitting, access to food banks and clothing banks.
For more information and leaflets listing local groups by local authority area, please contact lesley.bovington@lichfield.anglican.org (07704 485332) or carrie.blount@lichfield.anglican.org (07377 918101).
Lesley Bovington June 2025