Tue, 06 Jan 2026

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 Warm Welcome helps fight cold and isolation

This Warm Welcome venue is one of more than 80 across Surrey which are open over the coming months.
A woman who helps run a Warm Welcome venue in Dorking says the facility, which offers free hot drinks and social space during colder months, is important for both practical and social reasons. The venue, now in its fourth year, is part of an initiative by Surrey County Council to provide a warm welcome to people in need. The woman, Sue Jamieson, said that while providing warmth and food is essential, the social aspect of the venue is just as important. "It's not just about being out of the cold," she said. "It's also about being with others." An ongoing cold snap has made the facility's return particularly timely, with snow settling in parts of the county. Jamieson said that the Christian ethos of the centre was a key motivation for creating the Warm Welcome space. The venue is linked to the Community Fridge, which shares surplus food and aims to combat waste. However, the fridge's operator has announced plans to reduce deliveries from six to two per week, which could impact the Warm Welcome venue. Jamieson fears that without the Community Fridge, the space will not be as busy or effective. The fridge's operator said the change is necessary to create food availability for new mobile stops and to align with other static hubs in the area. The Warm Welcome venue at Dorking Christian Centre is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 10:00 GMT, offering hot drinks and a cold buffet breakfast.
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